Chapter 10 - Narration and Description Exercise

“The College Writer”: Chapter 10 – Narration and Description – Exercise

Reading for Better Writing – Exercise – page 139

1. In the first three paragraphs of his essay, the writer describes Highland. Cite passages that do or do not help you see the setting. What mood or feeling does the description evoke?

In the first three paragraphs, the writer helps me to visualize Highland by saying things like,” beautiful fall days…. on the Great Plains”, “warm southern breezes”, ”sun smiles with gentleness”,” spacious sky reigns over everything”, and “ghost town, Highland, Iowa.” These types of statements give me a picture of wide open spaces, where the air is fresh, the sun beams down on you, and the sky seems to stretch as far as you can see all over or around this little ghost town. The writer goes on to describe how the lands were once divided into 160-acre chunks and since then towns have dies out. The writer talks about the Protestant churches, horse barns and a blacksmith shop. I am picturing a deserted town in the middle of wide open space. I feel a sense of peace and the want to take in the amazing views of nature. On the other hand, when the writer mentions it being like a ghost town, I feel a tiny bit of eeriness.

2. James C. Schaap, himself a writer, takes his students to Highland, where he asks them to use the setting as a writing prompt. What could students learn from the experience? Why?

I think the atmosphere of this place will give the students the ability to learn to open their minds. The place seems to be so wide open and a place where you can breathe in nature at its best. I also think it sounds like the students can learn a little bit about the history of that area. See how years can change a place. The professor/ writer taking his students to this town of Highland, takes them out of their normal everyday lives, shows and gives them a change of pace, a chance to see things in a different light.

3. Schaap concludes the essay by saying that his students’ presence in Highland on September 11 was “a kind of blessing.” What does he mean?

I think the writer is trying to point out how on September 11, 2001, America was awakened with a tremendous amount of shock, terror and sadness. I think he was trying to say that the students he had with him in Highland on that day, at that time had the “blessing” of not partaking in so much of that shock, terror and sadness. They were able to see something beautiful in nature and clear their minds. And then maybe when going back and learning the news, they were able to deal with it better.

4. What do you think the writer is trying to say in the last several lines?

I think the writer is just simply trying to point out how much he really enjoys this place in Highland, Iowa. He looks at this place, or taking this trip, as such a joyful part of his life. So on September 11, 2001, he was glad to be seeing something so beautiful and peaceful before finding out about the horrors that took place that day.