Thursday, November 29, 2018
Ch.8 reflection by Hunter Hires
Ch.8 was a lot of fun to read and very thought provoking. At the beginning the chapter talks about critical thinking and it brought up a point that I really agree with. On page 286 paragraph 1, there’s a quote that goes like this “Why do we have to analyze literature to death? Isn’t it enough that its just a good story?” (Ballenger 286). I half agree with this quote because sometimes I feel that a lot of people just dig to deeply into pieces of literature and we sometimes miss the point and we aren’t enjoying a fun story. On the other hand though, sometimes it is better i we dig deep because we can find out something more deep. On page 285, the author brings up the example of Ernest Hemingway “For sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” (Ballenger 285). This chapter brought up a lot of deep provoking ideas and that’s why I enjoyed it a lot.
Chapter 8 Reflection -Phillip Niewald
Chapter 8 of The Curious Writer was mainly about writing a critical essay. A critical essay is defined in many different diciplines as an essay which makes an argument for a certain interpretation of something, typically a critical analysis. One of the things i found interesting from this chapter was how the author stresses the importance of looking at all angles of an argument. A good critical paper considers the other points of view other than just the on which it is trying to convey.
Another part of the chapter I enjoyed was the short story, “Lullaby” by Leslie Marmon Silko. The story described a Navajo native woman named Ayah, who lost all of her children. She lost her oldest son, Jimmie in the Army and later her other two children, Danny and Ella, were taken away from her by white doctors. She mournes by going into the hills with Jimmies old Army blanket and singing to herself. I think that the song she sings to herself is very deep and interesting. It contains alot of refrences to Navajo culture by personifying nature and its processes. I thought that this was a veryu interesting way for the writer to end the piece.
Another part of the chapter I enjoyed was the short story, “Lullaby” by Leslie Marmon Silko. The story described a Navajo native woman named Ayah, who lost all of her children. She lost her oldest son, Jimmie in the Army and later her other two children, Danny and Ella, were taken away from her by white doctors. She mournes by going into the hills with Jimmies old Army blanket and singing to herself. I think that the song she sings to herself is very deep and interesting. It contains alot of refrences to Navajo culture by personifying nature and its processes. I thought that this was a veryu interesting way for the writer to end the piece.
Ch.8 Reflection - Jordon Frye
Chapter 8 was different to me. As I had never really learned about critcal essays before. Reading Marmon Silko's "Lullaby", really helped me see what she meant throughout her story. I really empathized with Ayah. Especially when hearing of Jimmie's death and how she handled it. It reminded of me of when my grandmother had passed, and, rather than telling me exactly what had happened, my dad told me she wouldn't come around anymore. At the time, I was very young and could not have heard it any other way, and I believe that Ayah is similar to that. Although she was not exactly young, hearing that Jimmie was not coming home anymore, as opposed to hearing that he died, may have been easier for her to accept. This short story was easier to connect with than Gen's story "Who's Irish?".
Chapter 8 reflection
Chapter 8 was very interesting, despite the long length. I learned a lot of beneficial things in this chapter. It taught me about using a sketch before you write which really intrigued me. It was something totally new from just writing a draft and then the main paper as we always have done. It also taught me how to dig apart the text and dig way deep into it.
The story I’m going to reflect on is “Lullaby” by Leslie Silko. It was a story about a Navajo Indian women named Ayah expriencing great loss. She deals with the death of her eldest child. This whole story is about regret, loss, and how to cope. Ayah later losses her two remaining children due to illness. She deals with both of these in her own way. This story ends with her singing a deep Lullaby. She was very connected to nature which helped her cope. Overall this story and full chapter was very interesting and taught me a lot.
The story I’m going to reflect on is “Lullaby” by Leslie Silko. It was a story about a Navajo Indian women named Ayah expriencing great loss. She deals with the death of her eldest child. This whole story is about regret, loss, and how to cope. Ayah later losses her two remaining children due to illness. She deals with both of these in her own way. This story ends with her singing a deep Lullaby. She was very connected to nature which helped her cope. Overall this story and full chapter was very interesting and taught me a lot.
Chapter 8 Reflection
I thought it was cool in the chapter where the author talked bout turning a sketch into a draft. I'd say that most high school students have never heard of this, I know I didn't know what this was in high school. I think this is helpful because it's like a draft before a draft, maybe even almost an outline. Another way that this could help is because it's a way to really see what you will be writing about.The sketch leads to the rough draft which is heavily revised turning into your final draft. I think this chapter was good in the sense of explaining how you should go back, and what you should look for when correcting your writing. Finally, I didn't really have an idea of what a critical essay was, so i gained knowledge in that sense after reading this chapter. To sum it up, its basically just writing a paper about what you analyzed in another paper.
Chapter 8 Reflection- Emilee McCabe
From reading Chapter 8 from The Curious Writer, I learned that critical essays are intended to dig deeper within a familiar topic. When I read, most of the time I just read because I have to. One quote that stuck out to me the most was in a caption on page 288 that states, "... you often need to look closely, and in doing so, you see beyond the obvious." This relates to the true meaning of critical essays and how to analyze them. Instead of reading just because I have to, I should instead read with the mindset of wanting to learn more about the passage or topic in order to get a complete understanding. When getting a complete understanding about what the topic is about, it is easier to gather information in preparation for writing a critical essay.
The essay that I really enjoyed reading the most was, "Lullaby" by Leslie Marmon Silko. I liked how she used figurative language throughout the whole story which gave me a clear image of what was occurring. For an example, "Snowflakes were flying inside like moths and melting into a puddle on the oiled wood floor." This is a simile comparing how fast the big snowflakes were flying to moths, giving the reader a clear image. The lullaby Ayah's grandmother and mother had sung to their children was a key point in this essay. It shows that nature gives them an escape or a calming sense from the harsh reality that they had endured.
The essay that I really enjoyed reading the most was, "Lullaby" by Leslie Marmon Silko. I liked how she used figurative language throughout the whole story which gave me a clear image of what was occurring. For an example, "Snowflakes were flying inside like moths and melting into a puddle on the oiled wood floor." This is a simile comparing how fast the big snowflakes were flying to moths, giving the reader a clear image. The lullaby Ayah's grandmother and mother had sung to their children was a key point in this essay. It shows that nature gives them an escape or a calming sense from the harsh reality that they had endured.
Chapter 8 Reflection- Eleni Smock
The big question for this chapter eight is: What might it mean? Critical essays need this question to go deeper into the text and to really analyze what the topic explains, even if it is on a photograph or animal behavior, examples that are pulled from page 286. I thought it was very interesting that the text explained that critical essays are in every subject. The obvious English essays are one of them, and writing about your lab in Biology is a very uncommon one that you typically look over. Out of the two short essays, I liked Lullaby by Marmon Silko. It was very lyrical, but also filled with a lot of intense emotion. I did not like the second text, Irish as much because it was very sporadic and hard to focus on what she was explaining in the story. I did like though how it was like being in a conversation with the narrator, but it was hard to follow along.
Chapter 8 Review
I thought chapter eight was super interesting and I especially liked the sketches that were in it. Some of the things that I learned were that you actually need to have evidence to back up your points, as stated on page 326. I also thought it was super neat that you could critically analyze different pieces by looking at them through different "lenses". For example, you could look at a piece through a historical lens or a feminist lens and get two very different interpretations of the same piece.
My favorite piece of the chapter is definitely "Lullaby" by Leslie Marmon Silko on page 292. You could analyze this piece a multitude of different ways, but I liked the harmony that Ayah had with nature and the land. She made the Earth her family and even talks about that during the song she sings at the end of the passage. I think its also interesting to look at the difference between how she copes with the loss of all her children and how her husband, Chato copes. I think it also digs deep into Navajo tradition and culture, with the men having to show a brave front and the women standing next to them no matter what. It was a super interesting piece and I would definitely need a little more background on Navajo traditions but I could definitely see the ora tradition that is prominent in that culture being passed down.
My favorite piece of the chapter is definitely "Lullaby" by Leslie Marmon Silko on page 292. You could analyze this piece a multitude of different ways, but I liked the harmony that Ayah had with nature and the land. She made the Earth her family and even talks about that during the song she sings at the end of the passage. I think its also interesting to look at the difference between how she copes with the loss of all her children and how her husband, Chato copes. I think it also digs deep into Navajo tradition and culture, with the men having to show a brave front and the women standing next to them no matter what. It was a super interesting piece and I would definitely need a little more background on Navajo traditions but I could definitely see the ora tradition that is prominent in that culture being passed down.
Chapter 8 Review
While reading Chapter 8, I think the part that was most interesting to me was the essay “Lullaby” by Leslie Maon Silko. This essay was very interesting because it described a Native American woman reflecting on her life in her old age. This story was full of loss for the main character, Ayah. I think that although it was very tragic, it was significant that the author chose to include a scene that showed the mistreatment of Native Americans and how the “white men” took advantage of their limited knowledge of English. In the end, it was very moving how despite everything her and her husband, Chato, have been through, Ayah ends with saying that they are “together always”.
Overall, I think this chapter was one of the most informative because thinking critically is an important life skill and can also be applied when it comes to writing papers if done correctly.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Chapter 8 Reflection
I would like to reflect on the story called “Lullaby” by Leslie Marmon Silko in chapter eight. This is a very deep and sad story dealing with the topics of loss, regret, and coping. A Navajo Indian women named Ayah experiences a great deal of loss and pain. This begins with the death of her eldest child named Jimmie; he dies in a helicopter incident while serving in the U.S. Army. Ayah copes with this pain by wrapping herself up with the Army blanket that Jimmie sent her before he died. Ayah later loses her two remaining children to the government because of illnesses. She copes with this by sitting up in the hills surrounded by the same nature that surrounded her and her children when they were hiding from the government before being taken. The story ends with Ayah singing a deep lullaby that contains nature themed elements.
The most interesting thing in this story is the connection Ayah has with nature. She uses the sights, sounds, and smells of the hills, along with Jimmie’s blanket, as a way to remember her moments with her children. She takes detailed note of the moon, stars, snow, sky, and the cold. She sits there, one with nature, and connects to her family this way. The lullaby at the end illustrates this by assigning one element of nature to a member of the family and saying, “We are together always”.
The most interesting thing in this story is the connection Ayah has with nature. She uses the sights, sounds, and smells of the hills, along with Jimmie’s blanket, as a way to remember her moments with her children. She takes detailed note of the moon, stars, snow, sky, and the cold. She sits there, one with nature, and connects to her family this way. The lullaby at the end illustrates this by assigning one element of nature to a member of the family and saying, “We are together always”.
Chapter 8: Writing a Critical Essay from Alex Enders
One of the many principles that I learned from chapter 8 was about how to write a critical essay and how you must focus your essay over what the subject truly means. Plus, throughout writing your essay you must use your own previous knowledge and the research that you have done on your subject to support your essay to show its true meaning. In turn, using outside information whether it supports your subject or goes against it to further your essay and its meaning.
Another item I learned was how to revise a paper. I learned that when revising a paper you cannot only have evidence but you must have an interpretation of that evidence so that the reader may be able to learn the meaning of it. Plus, when revising you must try to make sure that when the reader is done they know what point you were trying to make, that the paper was smooth from paragraph to paragraph, and that all sentences are straight and to the point. For example, in the revised essay to "What is the roll of Nature in "Lullaby"?" on page 332 the introduction to the paper now states a broad background of the characters and a broad overview of what is yet to come in the essay without going into to much detail. Plus, the essay now has evidence supported by interpretation so that the reader may now understand what the author of the paper means by its evidence. In addition, this is a great change because in the first version the author barely introduces the characters and goes straight to the point of the whole paper and doesn't give any examples and interpret them as well.
Another item I learned was how to revise a paper. I learned that when revising a paper you cannot only have evidence but you must have an interpretation of that evidence so that the reader may be able to learn the meaning of it. Plus, when revising you must try to make sure that when the reader is done they know what point you were trying to make, that the paper was smooth from paragraph to paragraph, and that all sentences are straight and to the point. For example, in the revised essay to "What is the roll of Nature in "Lullaby"?" on page 332 the introduction to the paper now states a broad background of the characters and a broad overview of what is yet to come in the essay without going into to much detail. Plus, the essay now has evidence supported by interpretation so that the reader may now understand what the author of the paper means by its evidence. In addition, this is a great change because in the first version the author barely introduces the characters and goes straight to the point of the whole paper and doesn't give any examples and interpret them as well.
Chapter 8, Sierra Shamhart
Before I started reading chapter 8 I wasn’t very intrigued because of its length. However, I’m glad I read it because I learned a lot of beneficial things. I learned the difference between a critical essay and a research paper. As well as how to pick apart text and dig deeper. I specifically like the sketch on pages 324 and 325. I hadn’t thought about starting with a sketch when I write. I’ve been taught my whole life that you start with a draft then you turn it into your final. I really liked that she used that sketch and the points she included were effective and clear. Julie Birds essay was very well written. After reading this chapter I feel more confident in my ability of being able to find the errors in my essay and tweaking them to make them stronger.
Chapter 8 Reflection- Holly Galvin
I learned that critical essays are the more scholarly way to write an argument because the author is not supposed to use first person unlike an argument essay. The chart on page 288 really helped me understand what the purpose of a critical essay was because it was broken down in easier terms and laid out. It also helped me realize what I should be looking for when revising an essay and how to fix it once I do find weak points.
The chart on 317 was also very helpful in understanding a critical essay. It tells you what you should be thinking about when writing your critical essay and what kind of things you should be criticizing. On page 318 Ballenger writes “ In the conversation between what a text says and what it might be saying, you discover fresh understandings of what you read.” This quote stuck out to me because it helps me gain an understanding of the whole point of a critical essay. Chapter 8 was very lengthy but I learned good information from it.
The chart on 317 was also very helpful in understanding a critical essay. It tells you what you should be thinking about when writing your critical essay and what kind of things you should be criticizing. On page 318 Ballenger writes “ In the conversation between what a text says and what it might be saying, you discover fresh understandings of what you read.” This quote stuck out to me because it helps me gain an understanding of the whole point of a critical essay. Chapter 8 was very lengthy but I learned good information from it.
Chapter 8
While reading chapter 8 I began to gain a better understanding of what a critical essay truly is. It was interesting to me that it is basically just analyzing a text or paper. I liked the example on page 330 where it shows you where an interpretation is and where the evidence is that backs it up. I think this chapter did a good job of explaining how to polish and revise work and find what you did wrong in the first place. This chapter did a really good job of explaining what a critical essay is and the different parts of one.
Another thing I liked was the idea of starting with a sketch the moving to a draft. Many people start with a draft and just try to get done as fast as possible, but good writing takes time and I like the Author's point about starting even before a rough draft. After completing the final draft go through a bit of analysis which everyone should do when writing a paper. Overall this chapter helped my understanding of a critical essay which I found very helpful
Another thing I liked was the idea of starting with a sketch the moving to a draft. Many people start with a draft and just try to get done as fast as possible, but good writing takes time and I like the Author's point about starting even before a rough draft. After completing the final draft go through a bit of analysis which everyone should do when writing a paper. Overall this chapter helped my understanding of a critical essay which I found very helpful
Chapter 8; Critical Essay
Before I read this chapter, I didn't quite grasp the meaning of a critical essay. In other words, I didn't understand fully on what makes a critical essay a critical essay. As the book states on page 287 "Critical essays are built around a main idea, claim, or interpretation you are making about a text." which I believe summarizes the foundation better than anything else in the chapter. I think of one the biggest things that helped me comprehend the chapter, or at least a good example, is found on page 330. I enjoy being able to visualize what the Author is trying to describe to me and it makes it very easy to understand how interpretation ties into evidence.
There were a few things I was rather confused about, such as page 288 when discussing features. I dislike the way they present the information shown. Furthermore, I believe that I personally struggle with finding good motives in essays. That's why Julie Bird's critical essay was so helpful to me. I think it broke down what things should be inputted into motives, evidence, etc.
There were a few things I was rather confused about, such as page 288 when discussing features. I dislike the way they present the information shown. Furthermore, I believe that I personally struggle with finding good motives in essays. That's why Julie Bird's critical essay was so helpful to me. I think it broke down what things should be inputted into motives, evidence, etc.
Chapter 8 analysis and reflection
Chapter 8 of the curious writer focuses on the methods of writing a critical essay and what is contained within them. Of the stories read within the chapter “Lullaby”, by Leslie Marion Silko captured my attention the most so I will be focusing on that. In this story it follows the experiences of a Native American woman and her family and events that take place on the ranch they live on. Throughout the story it is clear that the main character feels the pain of loss from events in her life and is trying to cope with it, as in the story she mentions how her children were forced away from her for a time and her husband feels like a stranger to her. In order to cope with this she frequently finds peace in nature by focusing on the sensory details of the outdoors. Another reoccurring part I noticed in the essay was the story telling. Not only is the essay itself presented in the format of an oral story, the main character and chapter itself mention how story telling was a major method of sharing information about the world along Indian tribes. At the end she closes her essay with a thought provoking ‘lullaby’ after meeting up with her husband who is in poor health and has memory loss. This drives home both of these points, not only by adding to the story telling, but also adding to the theme of loss.
Brittny Ramirez - Chapter 8; Writing a Critical Essay
Chapter 8 on Critical Essay writing was very helpful to me in recognizing the main differences between a research paper and a critical essay. The most helpful was the original student sketch from Julie Bird on page 324/325 and the comparison of her final essay on page 332. While Birds sketch had two very good points or themes of the story "Lullaby", it did not include many passages or evidence to support the points. The overall impression I got from the sketch was that it read more like an opinion piece rather than a supported essay.
Birds final essay, however, was very well supported by many passages with explanation as to the meaning behind each one she chose to share. She also included research, a comment from a Silko critic (Karen E. Waldron) on the historical Navajo heritage which illustrated the oneness these tribes feel with nature rather than something to be viewed. Bird later emphasizes this point by ending her essay with, "Both are "beings"; both share consciousness."
While I enjoyed the other short story, "Whos Irish?" by Gish Gen, It was "Lullaby" and the demonstration between sketch and essay that I learned the most on critical essays.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Responding to Fresh
Author Michael Pollan says "Cheap food is an illusion" about halfway through the film Fresh. Using evidence from the film and your own experience, do you agree with him? Why or why not?
Please post your responses by class on Tuesday, November 27.
Here's a link to the film: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8gyP_Zr4xebNW84dndfbHBVN00
Please post your responses by class on Tuesday, November 27.
Here's a link to the film: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8gyP_Zr4xebNW84dndfbHBVN00
Monday, November 12, 2018
Comments for Gage and Austin: Fab Five
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Write about something well done. What did you learn from this group? What part of the Presentation seemed the best?
Is there constructive criticism that would help this group? What might have been more clear? What part of the Presentation seemed the least polished?
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Comments for Alex and Ben: Jackie Robinson
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Write about something well done. What did you learn from this group? What part of the Presentation seemed the best?
Is there constructive criticism that would help this group? What might have been more clear? What part of the Presentation seemed the least polished?
Post comments for this group below this post, please, as we all need feedback, and it's valuable.
Write about something well done. What did you learn from this group? What part of the Presentation seemed the best?
Is there constructive criticism that would help this group? What might have been more clear? What part of the Presentation seemed the least polished?
Post comments for this group below this post, please, as we all need feedback, and it's valuable.
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