Chapter 17

In everything you write you should choose an appropriate language. What are you writing about? Is it a report, an essay, a business letter or an e-mail to a friend? Either way you must write your piece in a way that relates to your subject and your reader. Most people do not want to read jargon, which is difficult to read and fills sentences with large, complicated words that are unnecessary. Jargon is usually used by government, the military, and Large businesses. Pretentious language, euphemisms, and “double speak” are other forms of writing that don’t give you the whole truth and they are things written in a nice way to cover up something not so nice. For instance a euphemism would be someone saying they talked about “the birds and the bees” with their child, which really means they talked about sex with their child. “double speak” is using deceptive language and a euphemism at the same time.
Do not use invented words, that one kind of explains itself. Also avoid slang, it is only attractive to a certain group and may be offensive to another. Standard English is the language used in all businesses, schools and professional fields. Nonstandard English is spoken by in different regional heritages, and should also be avoided when writing in formal or non formal way. You will also need to choose a level of formality. Do you need to be formal or informal? Think of the relationship you have with those you are writing for, will it be appropriate? Never come across sexist, it is not a likable trait. And be careful not to use language that offends a certain group by calling them rednecks or dumb hicks. It’s just offensive.
It was a coincidence that this chapter described the meaning of Standard English since it was described in our readings about Lovely and her nonstandard English. I will use this chapter to reflect on how I come across in my writings, does it come across too informal or offensive. Do I use too much jargon?

Response to Mr. Harvey

In “The Obituary” we meet Lovely and her best friend Jerry. They are in the same fifth grade class with their “worst teacher” Mr. Harvey. Mr. Harvey is a very hard character to like in this story. He is a very negative teacher, who tends to find the worst in his students, constantly putting them down and making them feel worthless. For Lovely in particular this kind of attitude is hard to deal with, she’s a sensitive child who is just starting to realize who she is and where she comes from. She is secretly ashamed of her family, the way they talk, what they eat, and where they live. To have someone in a role model position in life who tells you you’re not good enough and you will not be accepted by others can be quite damaging to a child. It makes me wonder why Mr. Harvey is such an unhappy man. As I think about It, I think he is frustrated teaching children who are not “perfect little American”? If they spoke perfect Standard English would he still treat them the same way?

Chapter 48 Summary

In chapter 48 we look at how to evaluate arguments in our readings and our own writing. While reading we should try to recognize any logical fallacies, most often referred to as hasty generalizations and false analogies. These analogies and generalizations are often dishonest arguments that are based on insufficient evidence. A stereotype is a type of hasty generalization about a group, for example, it’s like saying all pit bulls are viscous animals. Once someone forms their own opinion about something they are more likely to seek out what they already believe and throw out any other opinion on that topic. While drawing analogies we look at two different situations and analyze their similarities. While doing this we must trace causes and effects which is where most writers believe that in an event, the first event is the cause of the second. This fallacy is known as the post hoc fallacy. Then we have the either….or fallacy, where a writer only gives two choices for a conclusion when there are obviously more ways to a solution. Writers can also go wrong by making assumptions. They may claim something to be true without having any proof that their claim is true. When deducing a conclusion the writer is claiming that their conclusion is absolute. The writer will give us a general claim, followed by a specific claim, then a conclusion. The conclusion is true or false depending on the premises. We as readers also need to realize when we are being coaxed into an opinion when a writer uses the emotional or sympathy card to get us on board with their own opinions. This is where you can really see what kind of character the writer has. Look closely at how they writer deals with opposing views, and the views of others. Some will do anything to make their point of view correct.
I will use this chapter to analyze what I am reading in a different way. Just because an article is published in a well known magazine or newspaper does not mean that what is written is correct. You must learn to read between the lines. In my own writing I will give more descriptive and give more evidence on they claims that I believe are true. I will try not to be bias and listen to others opinions.

What impact did Chang-Raes' family have on his identity?

Our families teach us more than most of us can ever realize. The impact they have on our lives starts when we are just children and lives on into our adulthood. Each of us has that one special person in our lives who has had the greatest impact on us. In “Coming Home Again” it was Chang-Raes’ mother who had the greatest impact on his character and his identity.

One of the greatest lesson Chengs mother taught him was how to cook. He describes being a child in his mothers’ kitchen and watching her precise movements, cutting, and dicing, mincing and slicing. Whatever it was that she was doing in that kitchen her son was there keeping a close eye on her. He loved to be in that kitchen with his mother, even though time and time again she tried to shoo him out telling him the kitchen wasn’t his place, and that learning her work would only weaken him. Still he would sneak in quietly and observe. He describes those moments as his greatest pleasures when he was a child.

What accounts for the narrators' struggle with her Dad?

As a teenager all you want is your family to be normal. Unfortunately most of us are not that lucky, and that is the case in “Shooting Dad” The narrator tells us about her very annoying and embarrassing relationship with her father. The two could not be more different, or have two totally different points of view on the world and politics. He a gunsmith, who belongs to the NRA, and shoots crows from the front yard, and his daughter the musician and artist and has the “go green” mentality just never could get along in those oh so painful teenage years.

The narrator was not just embarrassed by her father being a gunsmith it terrified her. She hated guns and could not fathom the idea of ever shooting and killing an animal just for fun. She tells us of the years her father spent in the garage making his guns, and her in her room which was known as the “obstacle course of musical instruments.” These years were especially hard on their relationship. They could not understand each other and they were equally stubborn, unwilling to recognize and accept each others differences. It was not until she was a grown adult, no longer living under her parents’ roof that she was able to realize that someone had to give, and it was going to have to be her.

Her father had been working on an eighteenth century cannon for quite some time, and it was an ambitious project that took many years. It was the biggest project he had ever taken on, and with his daughter feeling like she needed to be a “better daughter” saw this as an opportunity to try to understand his love of firearms. She thought it a good idea to call up her father and ask if she could come visit and watch him shoot off his cannon. To her amazement she had a blast! She enjoyed every minute of it and found the explosion of the cannon exciting. It was then that she realized how much her and her father were alike. As she describes they are “both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects” They may love different things but they share the same type of passion for that which they love.

"Coming Home Again"

In “Coming Home Again” Chang-Rae describes the relationship he has with his mother. He was her only son and her first born; so naturally, he held a very special place in her heart, only he could fill. It was only fitting for him to come home when his mother needed him the most. She had grown very ill, fighting her battle with cancer. She was in her final stages of life when Chang-Rae discovered some truths about his mothers’ regrets and emotions she had been hiding for years.
Chang-Rae had decided to move into his family’s home once again after years of being away. At fifteen his parents sent him to boarding school which he says “was part of his mothers plan to change his character” Before he was sent away to school, he and his mother were not getting along. He was a teenager who had become “dismissive and bitter” towards his mother, finding her ignorant at times. They had slowly grown apart while he was away at school, and even before he had left their relationship had changed. After coming home to be with his mother at the end, he realized how much she regretted sending him away. She said, “I make big mistake. You should be with us for that time. I should never let you go there” and he asked her why, and she replied, “Because I didn’t know I was going to die.”
His mother obviously felt guilty about her decision to send him away as a teenager. She felt as though she had missed years of her sons’ life that she will never get back. The years she lost with her son only became more important and more painful to think about as her illness progressed. Her son knew this and tried to comfort her but knew that she would hold that regret until she was gone.

Chapter 46 Summary

Chapter 46, titled “Writing about text” gives us an idea on how to actively read a text and form a summary .A text could be an essay, articles, books, advertisements and even images. While you read, it is important to understand what point the author is trying to share with its readers. It is also important to actively engage yourself while reading. You want to highlight ideas that may provoke ideas or make you ask questions about certain statements. After you have read and make notes you should start an outline summarizing what you have taken away from the text. What has the author given you to write about? You may want to make a list of main points that support the authors thesis. Another way of showing your understanding of a text is to write an essay that analyzes it, which will briefly summarize the text but will focus on your own opinion of the writing.
“Writing about text” will definitely help me with the summaries we do each week. I think by the end of the semester I will have mastered the idea of annotating while reading. I have already learned in these few weeks that actively engaging myself while reading is a significant tool. Having a structured outline to reference back to while writing an essay will also be very helpful.