Written Communication - Spring 2009
In this class this semester, I learned about different writing styles. I learned how to write a narrative and descriptive essay, an analytical essay and a persuasive essay. Each was a little more difficult than the last.
In writing a narrative and descriptive essay, you are writing about a personal experience. When writing this type of an essay, one of the most important aspects of your writing should be in the details. You want to make the reader feel like they are there. You want your reader to see what you saw, feel what you felt, taste what you tasted and hear what you heard.
In analytical essays, there are several different ways you can write your paper. It can be cause and effect, comparison and contrast, classification, process writing, definition or a combination of any of these. In any analytical essay, it is very important to pick a topic that is important to you. You want to convey that importance in your writing to your readers. The main purpose of an analytical paper is to inform your audience about a topic.
In persuasive writing, it is also very important to pick a topic that you care about. You want to pick a topic, explain it to the reader, take your position, and persuade your readers in a non-condescending way to change the way they think or act about your topic. In persuading your readers you want to be sure to take and show your position, but also show the opposition and have rebuttals for those opposing views. You may also want to propose a solution.
In all forms of writing, it is a step-by-step process. You want to pick your topic, have a good understanding of your current knowledge on the topic and then do some research. Whenever you do research, you must make sure to quote your sources. You always want to make sure you are aware of your audience and what they may already know about the topic. A very important part of writing is knowing your readers. You always want to write a fist draft and get some feedback on it. You want to make sure that you have enough details and supporting evidence (if needed in the type of paper you are writing). You also want to be sure that you are clear in your essay as well as having a good flow; a good organization method to your essay. You want to make sure that your opening is attention grabbing and your closing is fitting to your topic. Then you want to revise your essay based on the feedback you received and correct any grammar and spelling errors. Then you are ready to write your final draft and publish your essay.
In this class, I would say the most difficult essay for me to write was the last essay, which was our persuasive essay. I found it the most difficult because you are trying to persuade your readers to change their opinions on a topic that you care about deeply. And you must do it in a way that is not argumentative (in a bad way). You must talk in a voice that is thoughtful. I think that is hard to do when you are talking about a heated topic.
Overall, I really enjoyed this class. I really enjoyed writing the essays we were required to write. And I especially enjoyed hearing all the different essays in class. I really like that there are people from all around the globe in our class and we get an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of others.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Chapter 20 - Proposing a Solution Exercise
Chapter 20 - Proposing a Solution - Exercise
“Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha” - Pages 306 - 308 - Reading for Better Writing Exercise:
1. What problem(s) does Quindlen identify? What solution(s) does she propose? To what extent would the proposed solution(s) solve the problem(s) Quindlen discusses?
I see the problem that Quindlen identifies is that in this country, only men, ages 18-25 are to be drafted if need be, not women. She proposes that both men and women, ages 18-25 should be drafted if need be. I think that her solution to the problem is a good one. I am not sure if I agree with it, but it would solve her problem of inequality in this country when it comes to a draft.
2. Review the section in Chapter 17 about “Identifying Logical Fallacies” (see pages 255-258). Quindlen’s opponents might accuse her of “wither/or thinking,” pointing out that instead of addressing only two options, she could also have argued to end the draft for everyone. What other logical fallacies might Quindlen’s opponents accuse her of making? Would you agree with them? Why or why not?
Appealing to pity, appealing to popular sentiment, attack against the person, and slanted language are some of the fallacies I see to be in this essay by Quindlen. I think, and do agree that these fallacies are present in this paper. I think that Quindlen’s voice throughout this paper shows a negative connotation. I think she preys on the reader’s pity that men are to be drafted, but women are not. That her son will have to enroll at age 18, but her daughter will not. I think her voice should have been smoother throughout this paper.
3. What strategies does Quindlen use to try to convince readers that the situation she describes is problematic?
Quindlen talks about the differences in women in this country to the women in Afghanistan. She also talks about how people in this country do not want their sons to get drafted, just like they would not want their daughters to get drafted. She points out that there should be equality in this country when it comes to this matter. She is trying to show that women and men are equal and should be treated that way on every level, on every issue.
4. Why does the writer acknowledge that there may be opposition to her description of the problem and to her proposed solution? How does she respond to these counterarguments?
One way that the writer acknowledges an opposition is talking about how people think that women are made of the finer stuff, but in this day and age made of the right stuff. Because of this, she says that right comes with responsibility and teachers teach their students this. But because women do not get drafted, it goes against what is taught in this country.
5. Why does the essay open with a series of one-sentence paragraphs? How might the effect of the essay differ if these sentences had been combined into one paragraph?
I think the writer opens this essay with a series of one-sentence paragraphs for a dramatic effect. She really wants to highlight some facts. If they were all combined into one paragraph, I think they would loose that dramatic, highlighted effect.
“Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha” - Pages 306 - 308 - Reading for Better Writing Exercise:
1. What problem(s) does Quindlen identify? What solution(s) does she propose? To what extent would the proposed solution(s) solve the problem(s) Quindlen discusses?
I see the problem that Quindlen identifies is that in this country, only men, ages 18-25 are to be drafted if need be, not women. She proposes that both men and women, ages 18-25 should be drafted if need be. I think that her solution to the problem is a good one. I am not sure if I agree with it, but it would solve her problem of inequality in this country when it comes to a draft.
2. Review the section in Chapter 17 about “Identifying Logical Fallacies” (see pages 255-258). Quindlen’s opponents might accuse her of “wither/or thinking,” pointing out that instead of addressing only two options, she could also have argued to end the draft for everyone. What other logical fallacies might Quindlen’s opponents accuse her of making? Would you agree with them? Why or why not?
Appealing to pity, appealing to popular sentiment, attack against the person, and slanted language are some of the fallacies I see to be in this essay by Quindlen. I think, and do agree that these fallacies are present in this paper. I think that Quindlen’s voice throughout this paper shows a negative connotation. I think she preys on the reader’s pity that men are to be drafted, but women are not. That her son will have to enroll at age 18, but her daughter will not. I think her voice should have been smoother throughout this paper.
3. What strategies does Quindlen use to try to convince readers that the situation she describes is problematic?
Quindlen talks about the differences in women in this country to the women in Afghanistan. She also talks about how people in this country do not want their sons to get drafted, just like they would not want their daughters to get drafted. She points out that there should be equality in this country when it comes to this matter. She is trying to show that women and men are equal and should be treated that way on every level, on every issue.
4. Why does the writer acknowledge that there may be opposition to her description of the problem and to her proposed solution? How does she respond to these counterarguments?
One way that the writer acknowledges an opposition is talking about how people think that women are made of the finer stuff, but in this day and age made of the right stuff. Because of this, she says that right comes with responsibility and teachers teach their students this. But because women do not get drafted, it goes against what is taught in this country.
5. Why does the essay open with a series of one-sentence paragraphs? How might the effect of the essay differ if these sentences had been combined into one paragraph?
I think the writer opens this essay with a series of one-sentence paragraphs for a dramatic effect. She really wants to highlight some facts. If they were all combined into one paragraph, I think they would loose that dramatic, highlighted effect.
Chapter 20 - Proposing a Solution Summary
Chapter 20 - Proposing a Solution - Summary
This chapter is all about identifying a problem and coming up with the best solution for it. You should pick a topic that is real, serious or shows danger or brokenness. The problem you choose to discuss should also have a workable solution. You should always identify and analyze your audience. You need to think about what they may already know about the issue, if it affects them directly or indirectly. You also need to know if there is any common ground between you and your audience. In your paper, it is of course very important to define the problem for your reader. They need to understand all the parts to the issue. You need to determine the seriousness of the issue, analyze the causes, and explore the history of the issue and solutions that may have been previously tried. And you must think creatively. Try to look at the issue through other peoples eyes. Maybe a different countries or gender or races sees the issue differently than you. Next, I learned that you need to brainstorm possible solutions and evaluate them. You need to be able to pick the best possible solution to this problem with supporting evidence that this is the best solution. Then you outline your proposal, showing the problem, the solution and the support. You should always get feedback when writing a paper, and then take the feedback into consideration. You then edit your paper, check for grammar and spelling errors and publish your paper. I did learn in doing my exercise for this chapter, that you need to be careful of including fallacies in your proposal. This seems to be very easy to do without even knowing sometimes. So I would ask your peers for feedback on that as well.
This chapter is all about identifying a problem and coming up with the best solution for it. You should pick a topic that is real, serious or shows danger or brokenness. The problem you choose to discuss should also have a workable solution. You should always identify and analyze your audience. You need to think about what they may already know about the issue, if it affects them directly or indirectly. You also need to know if there is any common ground between you and your audience. In your paper, it is of course very important to define the problem for your reader. They need to understand all the parts to the issue. You need to determine the seriousness of the issue, analyze the causes, and explore the history of the issue and solutions that may have been previously tried. And you must think creatively. Try to look at the issue through other peoples eyes. Maybe a different countries or gender or races sees the issue differently than you. Next, I learned that you need to brainstorm possible solutions and evaluate them. You need to be able to pick the best possible solution to this problem with supporting evidence that this is the best solution. Then you outline your proposal, showing the problem, the solution and the support. You should always get feedback when writing a paper, and then take the feedback into consideration. You then edit your paper, check for grammar and spelling errors and publish your paper. I did learn in doing my exercise for this chapter, that you need to be careful of including fallacies in your proposal. This seems to be very easy to do without even knowing sometimes. So I would ask your peers for feedback on that as well.
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