In the introduction to "They Say/ I say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein provide templates designed to create an essay using conversation. Specifically, Graff and Birkenstein argue that the types of writing templates they offer will help familiarize students with using their conversational skills in their writings. As the authors themselves put it, the "goal is to demystify academic writing...in the form of templates" (Graff, Birkenstein xvi). Although some people believe that borrowing ideas from other writers is considered cheating or plagiarism, Graff and Birkenstein insist that language is constantly being reused. In sum, then, their view is that one can use similar writing organizations, but still create an original piece.
I have a few mixed feelings about this, however understand what message they are attempting to convey. In my view, the types of templates that the authors recommend are very helpful by showing multiple types of sentence structures. For instance, they have demonstrated different ways of responding, to help carry on the 'conversation'. In addition, their templates helps the writer to express their ideas without completely writing the essay for them. Some might object, of course, on the grounds that these templates hinder your creativity. Yet I would argue that these don't affect what you put into your essay, only how you format it, making it more academic. Overall, then, I believe the templates are a helpful guide to start writing.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
They Say, I Say exercise #1
The term "Anti-Mainstream" tends to be synonymous with "hipster" in many peoples minds. They see this lifestyle as a cult that brainwashes its followers into eliminating any part of culture that may be considered popular as a means of being considered cool. However, few people who choose not to follow the mainstream do this to appear better than others. On the contrary, many of these supposedly brainwashed people are actually just wanting to be who they are, and become independent and seperated from the main 'rules' of society. The truth is, there are many good reasons to follow this independent way of life. Perhaps the best reasons are that you are encouraging people to be themselves, enjoying unique cultures, and becoming a free-living individual. In this essay, then, closesly examining an anti-mainstream person as compared to one who is attached to society's restrictions will show that non-ordinary habits are clearly the better option for becoming independent.
Chapters 1-15 Huck Finn
1. "That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth" (Ch. 1 Pg. 1).
Comments and Questions
The reason the author starts his book with this quote, is that he wants to make sure that the reader understands that he can and will attempt to trick you throughout the novel. Huckelberry Finn begins narrating his story, by introducing the author of the book, Mark Twain. Mark Twain, similar to Huckelberry Finn, was a trickster as well as a made up character. You may be asking yourself how the author of the book could possibly be a made up character. The name 'Mark Twain' is simply a pseudonym used by Samuel Clemens, however it is not just the name that has been made up. For example, there is a famous quote by Mark Twain:
"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
Mark Twain was a completely different personality created by Samuel Clemens. Samuel Clemens father had already been dead for 3 years before turning 14, so this quote could never have been true. Throughout Huckelberry Finn, this humorous personality of his will shine through into Huck's character.
2. "I could say the multiplication table up to six times seven is thirty-five... I don't take no stock in mathematics anyway" (Chapter 4 Pg. 20).
Comments and Questions
Comments and Questions
The reason the author starts his book with this quote, is that he wants to make sure that the reader understands that he can and will attempt to trick you throughout the novel. Huckelberry Finn begins narrating his story, by introducing the author of the book, Mark Twain. Mark Twain, similar to Huckelberry Finn, was a trickster as well as a made up character. You may be asking yourself how the author of the book could possibly be a made up character. The name 'Mark Twain' is simply a pseudonym used by Samuel Clemens, however it is not just the name that has been made up. For example, there is a famous quote by Mark Twain:
"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
Mark Twain was a completely different personality created by Samuel Clemens. Samuel Clemens father had already been dead for 3 years before turning 14, so this quote could never have been true. Throughout Huckelberry Finn, this humorous personality of his will shine through into Huck's character.
2. "I could say the multiplication table up to six times seven is thirty-five... I don't take no stock in mathematics anyway" (Chapter 4 Pg. 20).
Comments and Questions
Huckelberry Finn repeats phrases similar to this throughout the book. Closer to the beginning of the book he says the same about dead people, when referring to Moses. These quotes reflect Huckelberrys young, rebellious spirit. He doesn't trust the adults that try to teach him, and doesn't care for learning anyway. The author uses humour to get his point across that Huckelberry is just like any other boy, when it comes to school, by having Huckelberry mess up his multiplication in this quote.
3. "But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick'ry, and I couldn't stand it. I was all over welts" (Ch.6 Pg. 32).
Comments and Questions
Huckelberry Finn was written in the late 1800's, when it was more normal for parents to beat their children as punishment and not get in as much trouble. Hickory is the type of wood that Huck's father used to punish him, and it seemed to Huckelberry that with his fathers drunkenness, came more beatings.
4. "Well you see, it 'uz dis way. Ole missus-- dat's Miss Watson-- she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she awluz said she wouldn' sell me down to Orleans" (Ch. 8 Pg. 58).
Comments and Questions
In this passage, Jim is telling Huckelberry Finn why he is running away with him. During this time, people who were black were considered an inferior race, and were sold as slaves. Because of this, Jim did not have a very good education and spoke with a strong dialect. The author, Mark Twain, wrote this novel spelling the words phoenetically, so the reader would know to read it in their dialect, and to help further the understanding of the characters.
5. "Now you think it's bad luck; but what did you say when I fetched the snake-skin that I found on the top of the ridge day before yesterday? I wish we could have some bad luck like this everyday, Jim" (Ch. 10 Pg. 70).
Comments and Questions
Good luck and bad luck is a topic that seems to come up a lot in Huckelberry Finn's story. He, as well as many of the other people he speaks with, seems to be very superstitious and some of his actions may be controlled by what he thinks may be good or bad luck. Although he is very superstitious, he also has his doubts, and questions what may be considered good and bad luck by paying attention to his own experiences with 'bad luck'. Huckleberry Finn is growing up, knowing that sometimes you can't just trust what somebody says and that you must experience it yourself before knowing that what they say is truthful, but also knowing to be careful about 'bad luck' in case they are right.
6. "Now trot along to your uncle, Sarah Mary Williams George Elexander Peters, and if you get into trouble, you send word to Mrs. Judith Loftus, which is me, and I'll do what I can to get you out of it" (Chapter 11 Pg. 83).
Comments and Questions
While running away with Jim, Huck Finn decided to look around a town to find out information about what people were saying about his running away. He disguised himself as a girl to do this, but the lady he spoke to could tell by watching him that he was really a boy. As he left, the lady told him that she would help him try to get out of any trouble and gave him tips on how to run away and be better disguised as a girl. This may come in later, if he needs to be disguised again.
4. "Well you see, it 'uz dis way. Ole missus-- dat's Miss Watson-- she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she awluz said she wouldn' sell me down to Orleans" (Ch. 8 Pg. 58).
Comments and Questions
In this passage, Jim is telling Huckelberry Finn why he is running away with him. During this time, people who were black were considered an inferior race, and were sold as slaves. Because of this, Jim did not have a very good education and spoke with a strong dialect. The author, Mark Twain, wrote this novel spelling the words phoenetically, so the reader would know to read it in their dialect, and to help further the understanding of the characters.
5. "Now you think it's bad luck; but what did you say when I fetched the snake-skin that I found on the top of the ridge day before yesterday? I wish we could have some bad luck like this everyday, Jim" (Ch. 10 Pg. 70).
Comments and Questions
Good luck and bad luck is a topic that seems to come up a lot in Huckelberry Finn's story. He, as well as many of the other people he speaks with, seems to be very superstitious and some of his actions may be controlled by what he thinks may be good or bad luck. Although he is very superstitious, he also has his doubts, and questions what may be considered good and bad luck by paying attention to his own experiences with 'bad luck'. Huckleberry Finn is growing up, knowing that sometimes you can't just trust what somebody says and that you must experience it yourself before knowing that what they say is truthful, but also knowing to be careful about 'bad luck' in case they are right.
6. "Now trot along to your uncle, Sarah Mary Williams George Elexander Peters, and if you get into trouble, you send word to Mrs. Judith Loftus, which is me, and I'll do what I can to get you out of it" (Chapter 11 Pg. 83).
Comments and Questions
While running away with Jim, Huck Finn decided to look around a town to find out information about what people were saying about his running away. He disguised himself as a girl to do this, but the lady he spoke to could tell by watching him that he was really a boy. As he left, the lady told him that she would help him try to get out of any trouble and gave him tips on how to run away and be better disguised as a girl. This may come in later, if he needs to be disguised again.
7. "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither" (Ch. 15 Pg. 115).
Comments and Questions
Comments and Questions
Again, during this period in time, black people were considered to be lower in quality, so it was very strange for someone to act the way Huckelberry did. The reader knows that Huck is not judgemental and he understands that a person is a person, no matter what color their skin is. We also see that Huck is becoming more mature because he no longer wants to play any tricks on Jim and sees that their friendship is more important in this jouney they are taking together.
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