Blogpost #2: Is the writing effective, powerful, difficult, beautiful so far? What kind of language does the writer use? Give three examples from the text to support your analysis. Completed by Tuesday, May 20
16 Comments
Megan Eckstein
5/19/2014 10:50:57 am
From what I have read so far, the writing is very intriguing. The author uses many studies to support her writing, as well as many anecdotes. It makes the book both personable and entertaining. Besides intriguing, the author's writing is also very compelling. She keeps me interested and eager to read more. She uses many rhetorical questions and then later on answers them, in order to make her ideas very clear. Susan Cain wrote, "This is the question that drives Ericsson's career: How do extraordinary achievers get to be so great at what they do? Ericsson has searched for answers in fields as diverse as chess, tennis, and classical piano," (80). Cain then goes on to describe Ericsson's experiments and it helps show how practice in solitude helps improve performance. Her writing is also very illustrative. I can often picture exactly what she describes. "As I sit at a desk, a computer monitor flashes photos at me, one after another, each showing an unfamiliar face: disembodied black-and-white heads floating against a dark background," (117). This helps me envision what the author had to do during an experiment that tested whether people were high-reactive or low-reactive personality types. Another very interesting chapter in Quiet is when the author writes about Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt. It describes how Eleanor was introverted and shy, while FDR was extroverted and outgoing. "The man who would declare that he had nothing to fear but fear itself could not understand his wife's shyness," (132). I found this very interesting because Eleanor Roosevelt is such a well-known first lady and yet, she was considered to be introverted. I really enjoy Quiet thus far, due to the author's intriguing stories and wealth of knowledge on the subject.
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Anthony Jantzen
5/19/2014 12:55:40 pm
So far in The Hot Zone, Preston's writing has been very descriptive. He has recounted the first "microbreak" of the Marburg virus among Monet and Musoke in vivid detail. The descriptions are nothing short of horrifying, as Monet is explained as looking like a zombie, with eyeballs "frozen in their sockets" and turned "bright red," as well as jaundice looking skin (15). Later, the accounts of Monet become even more descriptive and disturbing as Preston illustrates the character in a hospital, vomiting "blood and black matter while unconscious," in addition to the bleeding out of every other bodily orifice (24). Preston's depiction of the scenario contributes to a menacing tone when speaking of the virus. When Monet first contracts the virus, the virus is explained as a "life form" that had acquired Monet as a "host, and it was replicating," (14). Eventually, the so-called hot agent would attempt to find a new host, having "destroyed" the original. Although terrifying and repugnant, Preston's storytelling urges me to continue reading.
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Alisse Urig
5/20/2014 09:18:41 am
So far, in "Into The Wild," Jon Krakauer has a very mysterious tone to his writing. The whole book is about how and why Chris's body came to be found dead in the wilderness, so it makes sense. There is a specific old bus about ten miles into the woods in Alaska that hunters can use and stay in if they need to for a night. Krakauer says that it is very common for no one at all to visit this bus for 6 or 7 months, so it's very rare and shocking that 6 people from different groups all and to this bus on the same day (2 and a half weeks after Chris's death) this is also a very ironic timing. Too bad they didn't come a little sooner.. There was a note on the door of the old bus that said "s.o.s. I need your help. I am injured, bear death, and too weak to hike out of here. I am alone, this is no joke. In the name if god, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?" No one knew what to do and there was an awful smell coming from the bus. One man shook the sleeping bag and saw Chris's dead head popping out. Quite disturbing. Krakauer's writing is quote effective and powerful. The way he sets up his work makes you want to keep reading and thinking, "Oh what's going to happen next?" Me keeps the reader on his feet. There is also some difficult parts and words that I do not know not understand such as "anomaly, amalgam, Adler and contumacious." All in all, though, very powerful and well written novel.
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Alexandra Klumb
5/20/2014 09:23:49 am
The writing in The Glass Castle is very effective. Walls is telling her childhood story with diction that paints a picture for me as a reader. It is very descriptive and dramatic, allowing the reader to be fully captivated by her story. For example, the opening sentence to chapter 2 of the book is "I was on fire." That alone sparked curiosity and made me want to read more. As she describes her experience in the hospital, she uses phrases like "smears of blood and yellow stuff" and "rough, scabby surface." (11) I can imagine the look of her wounds and how awful it must have hurt. Walls never uncovers more than what she knew at the time of the particular story. She allows the reader to infer. When she describes the way her and her family were always "doing the skedaddle" (19) she talks about how her mother and father explained why they were moving. Her father never fully comes out and says why people were after them, and she never says why either. She lets the reader be as clueless as she was as a child.
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Oscar Ryland
5/20/2014 09:32:43 am
Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, adopts an informative yet humorous tone. He presents an array of knowledge yet does so in a way that makes you laugh at times. At one point, Gladwell shows the month skew in Canadian hockey players. To do so he gives the play-by-play for two goals, "only this time [he] substituted the players' birthdays for their names" (23). Though a humorous approach, Gladwell is able to show the tendency for hockey players to be born in the first 3 months of the year quite accurately. At a different point, Gladwell shows an absurdly hard logic puzzle. Upon giving the answer, Gladwell states, "I have to confess I couldn't figure this one out, and I'm guessing most of you couldn't either" (78). This helps Gladwell relate to his audience and keep a relaxed mood for readers. Gladwell does still keep his book informative. After explaining his various stories, Gladwell brings his stories into focus, like he does as he asks "What does the story of Chris Langan tell us?" (96). Gladwell brings his humorous digressions to a point, which leads often to another humorous digression and so on, keeping readers interested while educating them.
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Jacob Brinkerhoff
5/20/2014 09:52:30 am
In the beginning of my book, Columbine, it was very calm. The author was explaining the lives of the shooters and victims before the mass shooting. During these few chapters, the author, Dave Cullen, made it seem as though the shooters were ordinary high school boys. "Eric Harris wanted a prom date...He was not about to be left out of the prime social event of his life." This made it very hard to believe that these boys would later go into Columbine with guns and bombs. The chapter where the shooting occurs, is very powerful. You can almost see the events unfold right in front of your eyes. “turned the corner, and Frank saw bloody smears on the carpet," and "we start killing then and there. I ain't going out without a fight," paint vivid pictures into the reader's head. This writing is very powerful and creates a strong sense of emotion in the reader.
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Samuel Webb
5/20/2014 09:59:42 am
Richard Preston, in The Hot Zone, has been brutally descriptive about the hot viruses. Preston also uses questions to let the reader know that all of the details are not completely clear about how Monet contracted the virus. Preston used "perhaps" and "probably" multiple times solidifying that his guess is as good as the reader's. Also, he asks the question "Did Monet put his hand in the ooze?"(13) this is a possibility as to where the virus found Monet and shows that anything could be a possibility. Then, later on Preston talks about a study as to whether the Marburg virus lives down in Kitum cave. It basically introduces that part of the book at the very beginning of the book. Preston also talks about the virus like it is a real person when he says "An airborne strain of Ebola could emerge and circle around the world in about six weeks, like the flu, killing large numbers of people, or it might forever remain a secret feeder at the margins, taking down humans a few at a time."(65) In this quote, Preston describes the Ebola virus as a homicidal killer just waiting in the shadows to find its next victim, but also warning against the chance that it could become a mass murderer.
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Becca Johnson
5/20/2014 10:08:36 am
So far in David and Goliath Malcolm Gladwell's writing is very effective. Gladwell uses anecdotes to get his point across. Every anecdote he uses he goes very in depth into, but every one has a main theme that ties together. There is nothing overly special or fancy in his writing and it is not to difficult so that most will still be able to understand. One thing Gladwell did with his writing that was very effective was to provide a visual representation of what he was talking about. On page 53 he uses three graphs, two to show what the relationship between class size and excellence is not, and one to show what it is. This was useful to aid in the understanding of the concept. An example of one of Gladwell's anecdotes is a story of a basketball team made of young girls and how they overcame being the underdog. While the story could be fairly treatable to many who may have played basketball while younger it was used to make a bigger point that the underdog had "the freedom to try things no one else has even dreamt of" and that can aid in their success, turning being an underdog into an advantage(37). This is very effective because it makes the point relate-able to a story about basketball that most people will be able to understand. One of the other things Gladwell does that makes his writing so effective is starting the book with a story that will continue to be referred back to. Gladwell begins the book with the story of David and Goliath. Later in the book he then can reference this story and refer to underdogs by calling them David's and the ones with the advantage Goliath's. For example he says "Louisville has become the Mecca for all those Davids trying to learn how to beat Goliaths" (33). Since Gladwell has previously explained the story of David and Goliath this strategy is effective.
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Paige Chesney
5/20/2014 10:49:25 am
So far I find my book to be very interesting. Shepard is very descriptive and uses a lot of detail, leading him to effectively give his audience a good idea of what he was going through at the time. He shows the audience that his journey was difficult right at the start when he was approached by a man on the streets. The man was not happy with some of the things Shepard said to him and Shepard successfully describes the seriousness of the situation by saying that the man began to, "circle to him like a lion preparing to pounce on his pray. His face was fuming and his mouth was foaming," (6). This shows the reader how much danger he was put in. Along with this he also establishes a some what humorous tone to show the reader that he kept a positive attitude during the experience. For instance, when he is describing the sound of the men snoring in the homeless shelter he compares it to his college roommate who, "snored like a warthog choking on his tonsils," (13). This simile gives the reader a good idea of how terrible the sound was. Shepard also uses a lot of dialogue when he is telling his story. Instead of summarizing some of the conversations he had with people he often writes word for word what was being said between him and the other person. For example when he talks to Marco for the first time on page 24 he goes into detail about what was being said and used a lot of dialogue along with his inner thoughts. This helps the reader to understand why this point in the story was so important. Marco was one of Shepard's first friends who he had an actual deep conversation with. Using a significant amount of detail allows the reader to understand more what the author was going through.
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Katie Lake
5/20/2014 12:22:37 pm
So far, Three Cups of Tea is a great choice. Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin's writing thus far is very descriptive and meaningful. They starts off by describing his trip, how it was a failure and how it led into a life changing experience. Relin uses strong imagery to convey an image, especially on page 11 when it says, "As he lay shivering on uneven rock, Mortenson watched as the last light of the sun smoldered blood red on the daggered summits to the east, then flared out, leaving their after images burning in blue-black." This descriptive writing style plays a significant role in the novel because it vividly portrays the story. Relin also includes figurative language with many alliterations. For example, on page 36, Relin writes, "family fell fiercly"and then again on page 37 when he writes, "suffering seizures". Lastly, Relin writes with an informative tone. In between dialect, Relin throws out different facts, especially on page 69 when he explains the 'Allah Akbhar".
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Megan Wessel
5/20/2014 12:53:41 pm
In Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell's writing is very descriptive, but matter of fact. He is telling his story about being a Navy SEAL and tells about the deaths of many of his close friends in his SEAL team. He begins the book with telling about when he had to go to the homes of his fellow SEAL team member's families and break the news that their Navy SEAL had been killed in combat. This particular part in the book is very powerful. He begins with saying, "Will this ever become easier? House to house, freeway to freeway, state to state?" (3). Beginning the book in this way really makes the reader realize how hard it is to be a Navy SEAL. Luttrell is very matter of fact in his opinions on things. When he talks about the terrorists in Iraq he says they would "sell their own mothers for fifty bucks" (28). He also gives hints of his political opinion in situations like the ROE's which are a set of rules they must follow before killing a terrorist. He believes they shouldn't have been created by someone sitting behind a desk in D.C. which is a long way from the battlefield (41). Overall, the writing in Lone Survivor is very effective and powerful.
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Victoria Radcliffe
5/20/2014 01:05:14 pm
So far the author of The Discovery of the Titanic has used detailed language that evicts a silent horror or sadness when describing his expectations of the Titanic such as "the gleaming metal of its body corroded into unrecognizable junk," and his use of "human remains" instead of dead bodies. He also uses a mocking tone when talking about the wealthy passengers. He states "the wealthy brought retinues of maids and manservants and mountains of luggage, most members earned such tiny salaries..." Although there are times where his wording is a little confusing, overall I like his use of language.
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Austin Madden
5/20/2014 01:18:48 pm
so far my author had had very descriptive writing, he likes to show the intricate things especially in the social aspect within the first 6 chapters or so. The author has used very descriptive, in the language, for example on page 3 in the very first chapter he describes the shivering hiker on the Alaskan dawn. Another example would be on page 25 as Jon describes the californica wild flower and how beautiful it is, and how it briefly blooms so amazing. the third example would be on page 67 where Jon talks about the "polished walnut table" instead of just a table that McCandless had dined at that night.
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5/20/2014 01:31:46 pm
I love this book! I am reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and I have only read the first few chapters and I'm already hooked. The writing is simple and easy to read yet the words and phrases put together have a powerful, emotional impact on me. At first Albom leaves you wondering with just the few opening paragraphs with a sorrowful language. Right off the bat you know Albom gets straight to the point, "A funeral was held in lieu of graduation." found in the first chapter The Curriculum and in the next chapter the Syllabus the very first sentence, "His death sentence came in the summer of 1994." Albom doesn't sugar coat the beginning and this is good because it allows readers to know exactly what they are getting into. I always like knowing the ending but this is tough because the ending doesn't seem so great. Morrie is a fun loving professor who has great insight and a strong will and has shown he is not afraid of death but willing to face it head on. In the chapter the Audiovisual I began to see how strong Morrie is, "he would never walk again. Yet he refused to be depressed." Wheel chaired bound, dying, and dependent Morrie doesn't let that get to him. I can't wait to finish reading and I already recommend this book after only reading the first few chapters, believe it's that good.
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Haley Wakelam
5/20/2014 01:41:29 pm
I do not feel that my book's writing is particularly beautiful thus far. This is not a fault, however. Because the story behind I am Malala is centered in a country whose history and culture most people are not familiar with, the author, Malala Yousafazai, felt it would be appropriate to provide an in-depth look at what life was like growing up in Pakistan. I have learned, for example, that Yousafazai considers herself a Pashtun, a member of the Indo-European subgroup originating out of eastern Iran, before she considers herself a Pakistani citizen. My preconception of Pakistan as an arid, desert-ridden country has been eradicated entirely, as Yousafazai describes in lush detail her native Swat Valley, considered by some to be the "Switzerland of the East." I can picture, thanks to the author's fantastic use of imagery, a place shrouded in mysticism and light, a place whose history dates back to the time of Alexander the Great and later the many Buddhist monks who came to pray there. "Near our home was a field scattered with mysterious ruins," she describes, "with statues of lions on their haunches, broken columns, headless figures and, oddest of all, hundreds of stone umbrellas." (17) Such details are important; from early on, Yousafazai is sharing the love she possesses for her country in a way that allows readers to view Pakistan throw her eyes, not their own. All preconceptions are thrown overboard as they form a connection with the author, a connection that, thanks to Yousafazai's use of foreshadowing, they can assume will soon be thrown into jeopardy. The first several lines read: "I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died, it was nearly midday." (3) Not only is she foreshadowing her near-death experience, she's also drawing a connection between herself and her country. It's as if she's stating that her country's ideology is the same ideology that she herself embodied in her fight against death, a powerful statement and a referral back to the omnipresent theme of nationalistic pride. Another passage that particularly stuck with me was Yousafazai's recounting of 9/11: "They said there had been a big attack on a building in New York. Two planes had flown into it. I was only four and too young to understand...It seemed very far away...We did not realize then that 9/11 would change our world too, and would bring war into our valley." (57) The overall feeling is an eerie one. As Americans, we know what 9/11 did to us. It's so important to remember that we aren't the only victims to suffer at the hands of terrorism. I suppose Malala Yousafazai knows that better than anyone.
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5/20/2014 11:57:45 pm
The writer uses difficult language, yet very effective. The style really shows the time period and how the people actually spoke in that era. Words that are considered bad like curse words are bleeped out, for instance d-d, which took me forever to figure out what it stood for which is why I say the style is difficult. He also takes a lot of time to describe his surroundings like how he was jealous of a bird for being free to fly because he wanted to "fly home to his family". This kind of makes the story line drag but is important in the reader being able to relate and be there with the speaker, effectively forcing the reader to understand the pain he's going through. Another very effective part is when the narrator first experiences the separation of a mother, Eliza and her daughter Emily. The way the little girl cries "Momma don't leave me" breaks the heart of the reader and speaker combined. This book is very rich in pathos and logos. And a good read.
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