Rules for Writers: Chapter 3

I had learned a lot after reading chapter 3. It's unfortunate that I had to learn about this process after the fact of writing essay 1 but I can at least use these new methods with my other writing assignments. Reading about Global revision really helped me understand of making sure that we take the proper steps of composing a well written report or essay. Making sure that everything is in order and are staying on topic. Also making sure that we are accomplishing the purpose of writing this essay by targeting our readers and making sure that they are basically hooked from beginning to end. Also, making sure that we clearly state the thesis and that we organize our paragraphs to support our thesis or main idea.

Also, taking the time to proof read everything and editing any content as needed in order to make sure that everything is flowing smoothly and will not cause our readers to drift off topic. I currently use the printing method to then read my essay out loud slowly and carefully to make sure that everything is making sense and is staying on topic as I continue my writing. Any corrections that I see that need to be done I will write to the side or cross out any thing that does not need to be in there. After doing that then I have a few other people read it before officially submitting the essay. Of course, we want to make sure that we are using proper grammar, punctuations, spelling, etc. before submitting anything over.

I will strive to use these methods in my upcoming assignments in order to make sure that everything is basically perfect and serves the purpose for writing that essay.

Coming Home Again - Response

c.      What’s the importance of food in this essay? 

    After reading this very sad story, I came to realize that food had a huge role in the relationship between him and his mother. In fact, food was basically the happiest time for the whole family. When it came to dinner time, the family gathered around the table and eat together and enjoyed each others company. This was the time where they could feel that the family is whole and they have each other during the good or bad. I felt that the food had a huge significance in this story because he described how he built his relationship with his mother and how he was always fond to learn all the different cooking techniques and having the ability to be one of the first taste testers while she was preparing the food. He showed a lot of interest in the process of preparing the meals and even though he was sent off to boarding school for some time, he still held on to the skills that he had learned from his mother as a way of appreciation for everything that she had done for him. A piece of her will forever be part of him in his cooking.  

    I believe that food has a major role with building relationships with your family. It is a special time that you get to share and bond with your loved ones. It is a time that you get to learn new things and share any interest with each other. I know that in my family, especially around the holidays, we always gather around the kitchen to help out and just have fun. Once all the food preparation is done then we all get to sit down around the table and just enjoy everything that we have and be thankful. Every time that we have a conversation with any family member, we always seem to remember the times that we all spent together around the kitchen table or when ever we all got together for a barbecue or pic-nick, no matter what we always remembered times that involved food. I can see how much of significance this is to the author as those times were the times that were most cherished, just being together.

Essay 1 Photo

I was unable to upload picture on Turn it In but here is the picture I seleted for essay 1.

Chapter 2

In this chapter, we cover all the areas necessary to start an essay. One of the main things covered is how to compose a well written thesis that will state what you are writing about and the main idea. With that, you will then support your thesis but completing your body paragraphs in which you will include any supporting facts or any info you see necessary that can give any additional reasoning to your thesis. Also, it shows you how to write a well written conclusion that will basically wrap up your essay that will ultimately support your thesis and reasoning behind the essay.

With this info, I will make sure to follow through with composing a mind sucking thesis that will want you to continue reading the whole thing until the end. I was fortunate to have this practice last semester with completing 5 well written essays in order to prepare me for this class. One of the things that I remember being told when writing an essay is staying on topic and not to give too much info that can cause us to drift off the main idea of our essay.

The Ways We Lie- Response

Do people have to lie in order to "lubricate the daily machinery of living"?

After reading the different ways of lying and how it can affect people by doing just that, really reminded me of myself on how I usually thought of myself as a truthfull person but then I came to realize that maybe I’m not as honest as I thought I was. I lie constantly every day in order to either benefit myself or to avoid any confrontations.

For example, I had a situation with one of my customers earlier in the week that resulted in them getting over 30 overdraft fees. We have helped this individual many times before and have educated them on how to avoid these situations from occuring again, but unfortunately they are right back where they were before. I knew that my supervisors would NOT reverse any fees based off the circumstances that I had mentioned but this person was really struggling financialy so I was thinking of ways to help this person out, so I stretched the truth. I informed my supervisor that this person had issues with comprehension and did not understand what we meant by having overdraft protection so this person thought that they can just keep charging against the account without having the money and would just pay it back once they got paid. As long as they did that they assumed that we would not hold them responsible for the fees. My supervisor believed the story I told them and they credited back all the fees.

So do I believe that people have to lie in order to “lubricate the daily machinery of living?” Of course I do. No matter what the situation, people are constantly lying in order to move forward in life. Whether it is a little white lie by telling your partner that they don’t look fat in those jeans just so you could avoid an argument, or by telling someone that your cell phone was on the fritz and that was the reason why you did not get the phone call when in reality you just wanted to avoid them. These two examples basically lets them hear something that will not cause them to get mad at you and continue with life. One of the number one rules for lying is to remember your lies in order to make sure that you never get caught; otherwise this will cause an even worse situation for you at a later time.    

Chapter 1 Summary

This chapter was a refresher to what I had learned last semester. As mentioned in the chapter, it discusses ways to produce great structural essays. It helps us think as to what audience we are trying to target and if we are trying to persuade them to do something or educate them. It also helps us find the purpose for writing on the subject that we chose as well as maybe relating any personal experiences to that subject.

We also learn ways of being able to build what would end up being a well written essay. For example, taking notes that can help our thesis or to help us come up with a subject to write on. Jot down any ideas that may come to mind or creating a brainstorm of all the information we may know on that subject. By doing this, it will help us get an overall understanding of what we already know and possibly raise questions to what we do want to find out and complete any necessary research to support the subject we would like to write on. By following simple steps like these, it can then help us then create a rough draft to start off with.

After reading this and taking into consideration what I had learned before, I will continue to use these methods in order to be able to draft a well written essay. I never really thought about listening to music for inspiration but I shall take that into consideration this time around to see if I get inspired for any new ideas or thoughts that can help me write my essay's.

Superman and Me; Response

Why is a “smart Indian” dangerous?  Dangerous to whom?

   After reading Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie, I was shocked to find out how he portrayed his life as a child growing up on an Indian Reservation in Washington in which all Indians expected you to be a certain way. In this case, they are not to show any signs of wisdom but to let the “non-Indians” believe that there is basically no hope for them and they will forever be less educated than them.

   I felt like Alexie was informing us that it was difficult to know which way would be the correct way to follow since the Indians were expected to show themselves a certain way and not engage in any learning activity in order to be “accepted” in the tribe. Whereas Alexie wanted to do the complete opposite and learn as much as he could and grasp as much information as possible whether it be in class with a teacher or in literature. Being well educated can have its dangerous factors with both Indian community and non-Indian communities. As mentioned in the 5^th paragraph, “A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed.” I believe he says this because he has constant battles with his fellow classmates for answering any questions that the teacher (who is a non-Indian) may ask, when they are supposed to keep their heads low and not answer at all.

   I had to really think about how a person can be dangerous for being well educated. How or why would that person be feared or ridiculed for knowing more? After taking a moment to think about it, I had to put this in another perspective as to maybe that person knows too much. That person would be the geek of the classroom, which in most cases would get picked on all the time. But as we know, knowledge is power. Without knowledge no one would be able to get ahead in life, in order to survive a tough situation or to comprehend enough to know where they can seek assistance. Maybe the people who ridiculed him are just afraid that he could possibly do something that can have a negative effect not only on them but on the whole Indian tribe. And for the non-Indians, the only thing that comes to mind that they will have to fear is that the Indians will learn their legal rights. Maybe something is occurring that shouldn’t, and they do not want them to be aware of it. Maybe I was over thinking it but that’s what I was able to come up with for the questions above.