Week Eleven

I choose to write about chapter 41. This chapter tell the reader when it is OK to write out numbers instead of just typing them.  The general rule is that if you can put the number into words and use less than  three, you can type out the words. If the number you are using needs to have more than two words use figures.  Here is and example 192 would be written out as 192,  the figure three would be three.  Also if the figure is to be used in the beginning of the sentence it should be written out.  Generally figures should be used on dates, addresses, percentages, fractions, decimals, scores, statistics, exact amounts of money, divisions of books and plays, pages, id tags and time.

I will use this chapter when I write numbers in written form. I had no idea that there were so many different rules about numbers. I write them down in figure form all the time, and I had no clue that it was wrong.

Smoke Signals

I decided to pick a scene  from the movie, and  to write about it.  The scene that I picked is when the two girls are in the car talking.  This is happens in the beginning of the move, so I felt that it was important and it was funny as well. The way that the story portrays Indians is very stereotypical,  and at times, to me awkward.  The way that the two girls are talking to each other leads the viewer to believe that they are ignorant people.  What I mean is why would the girl ask for a beer, and then the other girl tell don't you remember we quit drinking.  I thought that this was a little extreme. Very amusing, but extreme. I also liked this part because the whole time that they are driving, they are in reverse.  Which, right away I thought that their car had no forward gears maybe, meaning that they couldn't afford to fix it?  I felt that this string of scenes all the way until the two boys get on the bus was about how the Indians had little to no money, and were just all around goofy.

Chapter 48

Chapter forty eight covers evaluating arguments.  Sometimes both sides of an argument have solid facts, other times one or both sides may have half truths.  This chapter explains how to distinguish between reasonable and fallacious arguments, and the use of misleading statements and and dishonest strategies in order to persuade the audience. Allot of people make hasty generalizations all the time.  That statement is an example of one in itself.  Writers are no different, they also use generalizations and stereotypes to get an idea or point across.  These are common traits in people, we make uninformed choices and then we form opinions around what we think to be truth.  Just like the saying that lawyers are all sneaky people.  Not true, I am sure that there is at least one good one out there somewhere. Drawing analogies to make a point is another tactic that shows two things that are not alike, then show that they are in fact similar.  Cause and effect can show the reader evidence of what something does by show its lasting effect. Describing the view of others in a misrepresenting way (like politicians) is a fallacy.  If the writer use the opposing persons words in quotations it is usually done so the reader thinks it is in fairness and accurate.  Overall the way that a writer describes the opposing points of view will often let the reader know how the writer is, is he bashing the other guys ideas, or is the writer just telling you what his opinion is.  It is hard to tell sometimes, when a person has some personal connection with what he or she is writing, the truth may get a little fuzzy. Many people have  an opinion because of media or other types of advertising.  It is hard to be unbiased, when everywhere you look you have someone or something telling you what is .......
I enjoyed this chapter because it give you pointers on how to look at an argument.  I like how it described some of the ways that a writer can use tactics, some good some bad, in order to sway the opinion of the reader.  I will use this information in the next essay, so I can do a better job at getting whatever ever my point is, across.

My response to Mr. Harvey.

When I read about Mr. Harvey, I was surprised at how he spoke to students.  I have never heard a teacher tell a child that he or she would be nothing when they grew up.  My first thought is how is this person telling a child something like that, their whole purpose is to nurture and to help a child flourish.  The next thought is that this man must of had a terrible childhood, or maybe he was picked on because of his own speech problem.  Even if this is the case, that is still no reason for a teacher to degrade a student. 

I have a daughter that is in elementary school, in the fourth grade.  If she had come home and told me or her mother that a teacher had spoken to her like this, there would be a teacher parent meeting the following day.  I think people that work with children should be held at a higher standard, and not allowed to take out their frustrations on children. Mr. Harvey, in my opinion, is probably not a bad person, but someone who gets frustrated a little to easy to be a teacher. Teachers need to have patience, and want to be there to help learn, not to have the attitude that "it'll take us a goddamn lifetime".

Purdue online Writing Lab

The Purdue Online Writing Lab tells the reader about writing fiction, and some of the pitfalls the reader/ student fall into.  Close reading means using a highlighter, after you have already read for comprehension, and writing notes in the margin. The notes in the margin should have questions, statement and some general notes.  Right after reading the essay, the student should keep a notebook for free writes and response entries.

Here are some of the pitfalls, the plot summary syndrome, this is when the student believes that the only task is to remember the plot, it is not the intended goal. The right answer roulette, this is when the student tries to guess the only right answer that only the teacher knows, there is always more than one.The everything is subjective shuffle, this assumes that every interpretation is of personal taste, and ignores the validity of the need to reference specifics of the story. the last one is how can a person write 500 words on a short story, you have to be able to put your own ideas down in order to write 500 words, especially if the the story is short.
I will use this information the next time I write about a work of fiction.  I am just now starting to actively read .  I just now began marking in the margins of books, and asking questions.  I like how it helps me to grasp what the author is trying to convey.  This will help me to better understand the mechanics of what the writer is doing.

Chapter 47

    Chapter forty seven tells the reader how to construct reasonable arguments.  In order to have an effective argument, you need to be assertive, state your belief, with facts that back it up, and not be to passive or to aggressive.  When forming an argument, the writer has to be aware of the context, whether it is social or intellectual debates.  The writer needs to be well informed if he/she wants to have an advantage in the argument.  The readers should be seen as jurors, if you assume that they don't see it the way you do, you will provide more evidence to support your argument.  In the beginning of you paper, the writer need to state their position and establish credibility.  If the writer shows the reader that they are knowledgeable, the reader will be more likely to actively pay attention to what is presented.  The writer has to be able to show specific evidence to support their argument.  It is very helpful if the writer can state facts and statistics.  If the writer can anticipate counter arguments, they can have a rebuttal ready, to dispute the counter and to strengthen the argument.  When the writer uses illustrations, it can connect on an emotional level, one that statistics cannot.  If the writer can build a coomon ground, the reader may listen to what the writer has to say.  If the writer can show the reader that they may share the same values, the writers opinion becomes valid, and reader might pay closer attention to the other side of the argument.

      I will use this information not only when forming an argument, but also when writing in general.  I tend to forget that the reader does not allways agree, or have the same veiw as me.  When I write I need to illustrate more, and to show more specific evidence to support my ideas.  this will help me to get my point across more clearly, and quickly.

Sarah Vowell, How her parent's shaped her life.

Sarah Vowell's family moved from the country into a more town like atmosphere when she was eleven.  It was here that she began to grow into the writer that everyone knows now.  This is  the time frame where she began to think for herself.  This is also the time frame in which she begins to question what others are saying, and to debate.  Sarah's father shapes her into an artistic writer who thinks for herself and voices her opinions clearly, with a great devotion and work ethic in her career.

Sarah and her father had many debates when she was young, which as she got older helped her to be able to communicate so clearly as a writer.  The two would argue about the Constitution, politics and everything in between. When a child is in constant debate, they become very opinionated or quiet.  In this case Sarah, choose the first option.  By her and father debating all of the time as a child, she grew up to become very opinionated.  A writer needs to be sharp, and have the skills to be able to debate and form opinions at will.  Sarah's father taught her to have her own opinion, and be able to express it.

When a person is in constant argument, they become sharp witted.  I am sure that this is what happened to Sarah as she was growing up.  When I read the story "Shooting Dad", I heard a strong voice in the writing.  I believe that the voice I "heard' was the voice that she learned from her father.

When Sarah was growing up her parents let her decide what was important to her.  This freedom of choice let her become the person she is now, the writer.  Had her parents pushed sports, or had her father made her shoot/hunt with the rest of the family, she may have not become the writer.  Her father let her follow her passion, like he followed his.

He taught her that devotion, and dedication will bring success, and happiness.When a child sees a parent being proactive, the child has a better chance of being proactive as well. Her father had a love of firearms, and he let her have her love, writing.  

As a child Sarah would spend hours in her music room, just like her father who would spend hours in his shop.   This showed her that being so involved in what she was doing was OK.  Had her parents not been OK with her being by herself, reading ,  she may not of become the writer she is. By letting her be herself and not making her be someone else, they helped to shape into who she is now, the artist and the writer.

Sarah says it best herself in the story "Shooting Dad", "Were both  smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment".  That statement tells me that her father played a huge role in Sarah's life as a child and as an adult.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four explains how to build effective paragraphs.  Paragraphs should have a topic sentence, that supports the thesis, and focuses on what is coming next in the essay.  The topic sentence doesn't always have to the first sentence in the paragraph, but it should state the main point.  The rest of the sentences in a paragraph need to stay on topic and develop the main thesis.  The way that an essay is written, the pattern, doesn't have to be in any one way , but it needs to flow.  The writer should provide examples in the essay where ever there might be a need to better illustrate the idea.  Narration or a narrative paragraph tells the reader a story in chronological order, but can also include flashbacks or forward to break it up some.   Descriptive paragraphs are just that, descriptive, they describe a person place or thing.  A process paragraph tells you how something is accomplished in order, step by step.  Paragraphs can also be used to compare two or more subjects to show the differences or contrasts.  Another tool for showing comparisons is to use analogies.  The writer needs to be able to make paragraphs readable, by having the ideas linked clearly and coherent.  By adjusting the length of paragraphs the writer can keep the reader involved in the essay.  If the writer changes point of view the reader can become easily confused. If the writer uses transitional phrases in between sentences it lets the paragraph flow and read easier, the same goes for transitioning between paragraphs as well.


This chapter had allot of information on how to keep the reader engaged in the essay.  The part that I will use the most is to stay on point.  I tend to put to much information into one paragraph.  I will use this chapter when I start to put my ideas into paragraph form. I never even thought about the transition between sentences or paragraphs, I just wrote down what I was thinking, and hit spell check.This chapter made me think more about how to convey what I am thinking, and to put it into a more coherent order.