Response to Course Material

Juxtaposition. To position things next to each other to show contrast. This describes our class. Reading and comparing articles to Albee's "The American Dream" and each other we have come to a much better understanding about this play. Although the articles are interesting because, the Socratic discussions are more helpful. This is because we tie everything together during these discussions and see opposing opinions. 

Although most people avoid confrontation, I believe it is important in our conversations. We can not hope to improve our knowledge if we are never challenged and so each position adds to our knowledge. The debate about whether Albee's play is a farce or a satire shows this as the conclusion is made that it may be a mixture of both; that his unique play may not fit into one category. 

The human brain is constantly trying to organize every thought, so this work proposes a challenge. The diction is informal but the man behind it is a genius. His use of malapropism with the changing of "bundle" to "bumble" shows his  careful thinking. To an unsophisticated person this can go undetected, just as the whole play's representation goes undetected by those who believe it is a play that is a theater of the absurd play, but to Mrs. Holmes students, who know that it is not theater of absurd, this word play does not go unnoticed. 

Many connection are made in class that I would not have thought of, just think about the doll house. 

2006 Question 1 Response 1C Analysis

You start your response off on a sour note by noting the use of diction and syntax directly. This is not a new technique used by the author, all writers choose their words and order. As you continue to respond you often recycle words and ideas, like when you describe the hawk as “bold” and note the landscape’s “boldness” in the same paragraph. Next you go on to say that syntax is used by Warren “to convey mood, meaning, and scene.” which would be okay if you followed this with an explanation but instead you just talk about the hawk’s swiftness and briefly mention their being no paragraphs. You do not mention the mood at all in this passage except to say that it is elegant, but what do you feel when you read the poem? You also miss the main point of the poem, it is suppose to be a dark poem, not majestic, and you do not mention the human’s role except to say that he admires the hawk. The human has a much bigger role in this poem than admiring the hawk, you should talk more in depth about him.

2006 Question 1 Response 1B Analysis

Your introductory paragraph seems as if you are writing to get your ideas flowing, it is a decent draft but it is unclear to the reader what you are going to talk about. Your first body paragraph still appears to be beating around the bush, you have the right idea but are not using strong words or examples which gives the appearance that you are insecure in your comprehension of the poem. Your next paragraph seems closer to the goal but you should use quotes from the poem instead of paraphrasing, it gives your opinion more support. You start to catch the reader in the third body paragraph by choosing a strong quote and stating that this creates a “grim expectation” and the next paragraph follows this flow as your ideas solidify. Your concluding paragraph is  as rushed and insecure as the beginning but you did hit some major points in the last two body paragraphs.

2006 Question 1 Response 1A Analysis

Your first paragraph is well thought out, briefly mentioning the topics that will appear in the essay while taking a strong opinion about the mood. It is followed by a body paragraph that carries a punch and which explains the author’s use of diction and imagery with strong examples from the poem such as “stalks of time.” Examples like this demonstrate your well supported opinion of a “dark, foreboding” mood and shows the viewer that you understand poem. You have many examples and everyone supports your opinion making this response stronger than many others. Also you finish up with a powerful last paragraph which helps tie everything together and answer the prompt question.

Close Reading 1: My Promise to Change the World

Karen Garrison’s “To Heal the Earth, Put Plastic in it’s Place” is a strong piece that forces the reader to make a change. Garrison uses many of the techniques that we are learning to incite her readers to recycle and reduce plastic materials.

One reason I believe her piece is strong is due to her elevated diction; because she keeps her words formal her argument is taken seriously. Garrison uses words such as “proliferation” and “Polystyrene” to show that her opinion is based on facts and research.

Her elevated diction and syntax help to  keep her tone serious; she wants people to understand the impact of plastic and to use less “single-use” plastic items. In order to achieve this tone she uses short, forceful sentences, “But they cannot stem the tide of plastic pollution.” Also she keeps her article in present tense writing about how plastic “kills” wildlife making the issue urgent.

Topping off her strong editorial is her relevant details. She only uses the information that is useful, leaving out details about the “coastal cleanups” and sharing information about CalRecycle’s hard-hitting prediction on wasted plastic.

Karen Garrison has inspired me to use less plastic and I believe that this article inspires others as well. She chose great words, sentence structure, and information to affect her readers logically so they will change the world.