writing topic: rules for writers chapter 48

Chapter 48 is about evaluating arguments in your own writing by looking for logic and fairness. At first some arguments seems reasonable but then turn out to be “fallacious, unfair, or both.” (371) For example a hasty generalization is a conclusion based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence. This is also known as a stereotype. Many people tend to confirm evidence with their own opinions and do not notice the evidence itself. Another fallacy is false analogy. You cannot assume that two things are alike even if they both have the same challenges. In order to keep your arguments on track, trace the causes and effects of your statement. To have enough evidence to back up your argument make a connection to see what causes the outcomes.

After reading this chapter, it helped me determine what type of arguments are fair. I know that when I’m writing an argumentative essay I tend to use hasty generalization. Being human, I believe that we all do confirm most of our evidence because of our own opinions. Stereotypes are used everyday, so some feel that they may be true. It will be difficult to step back and look at the causes and effects of what makes each statement true. But in the end, your essay will be hard to argue with.  

“happy endings” and “oompah loompah”

Why does the author contrast Shirley Temple and Oompah Lompahs? What meaning do you take away from this contrast?

Lovey explains how much she would love to be just like Shirley Temple “with perfect blond ringlets and pink cheek and pout lips, bright eyes...” (3) Shirley Temple movies made her cry. It made her want to miss Sunday School because of the happy ending. She said that she would cry because she was happy. And how she wished that she could have a happy ending just like Shirley.

Lovey’s mother decides to perm her hair for her. She explained that when she “pau” (60) she will look like Farrah Fawcett, Angie Dickinson, or Shirley Temple. When her mother was finished she had an Afro. Cal gave Lovey a nickname for her hair, Oompah Loompah.

Shirley Temple and Oompah Loompahs have maybe only one thing in common, they sing.  I believe that the author contrast the two because they are totally opposites in appearances but yet they both live in a perfect world. Shirley is cute girl with perfect ringlets and opposed to Oompah Loompahs with their ugly skin and funky hair. I think it doesn’t matter what you look like as long as your happy where you are.

writing topic: rules for writers chapter 47

Chapter 47 is about constructing reasonable arguments, which means taking a stand on a debatable issue. The main goal of debating on a issue is not just to win, but to convince readers to reconsider their opinions. There are three different tones of arguments; aggressive, passive and assertive. Before stating your argument it is important to examine your issue’s social and intellectual contexts. Don’t be afraid to do some research in preparation of your argument and consulting a few sources can help. Another tip is to view your audience like a panel jurors because each person has a variety of opinions.

As mentioned in the chapter your introduction should include your thesis that states your position on the issue. This includes a good opening sentence with a sentence that is fair-minded which will help establish your credibility. A good thesis should have persuasive lines of argument which could help convince those that disagree. When developing ideas to support your thesis use examples, illustrations, facts, statistics. At times writers use experts opinions to support their argument, but just remember to provide credentials. Anticipating and countering objections can strengthen by showing you are a reasonable and well informed writer.

I believe that when writing an argument paper it is important to have a more assertive tone. It definitely will help get your opinion out to your readers. Even if the reader already agrees or disagrees with your opinion having sources to back it up will change views or simply giving that information out there. When writing essays I think giving examples or illustrations make a stronger persuasive essay. It gives a the reader a better picture of what you are trying to say.

essay 2 workshop

"coming home again"

Reading "Coming Home Again" by Chang-rae Lee made me realize how family is what I cherish the most. Just like Chang-rae and his family, we cook and share memories across the table. Spending each moment with them is a time that can’t be explained in simply words. Growing up I never really knew why some people made a big fuss about their families. Until I met my husband, who taught me the meaning of the word family. No matter if times are tough always stick together. Help each other out once in a while, and go out of your way to show them you care. For example, in “Coming Home Again” when his mother was sick he moved home. He would try his hardest to make each dish exactly the way his mother would. Now thinking back of all the points in time where certain moments define the word family. I remember almost every two weeks my family and I would take a road trip. All those trips in the white van reminds me how just being together, standing beside one another, and all the little things makes the word family true.

Throughout life, you will understand why being with your family is so valuable. I remember as a young girl I enjoyed spending time with my family, even though at times we all had our differences. When my youngest brother was born I thought my life was over. Great, another boy to watch over. I wanted a younger sister so bad, but for some reason life seem better than before. A new addition to our family meant my mom needed a bigger car for all three of us. My mom sold her hunter green Honda Accord to my uncle and bought a brand new 1993 white Dodge Caravan. We took many road trips in that van. It didn't matter where we went, just sitting in that roomy van knowing we would end up somewhere together.

Almost every weekend my mom and dad would drive us in our white Caravan to Stockton to visit our grandma and grandpa. They were my moms adoptive parents. My mom would always pack our favorite snacks. One of our favorites was the Nongshim flavored onion rings. "The flavor is lighter and a bit "sweeter" than Funyuns, but still deliciously oniony." (Daves's Cupboard) We would always link the rings together or see how many we can fit in our mouth at once. Before we knew it, the bag was empty. On the way there we would always stop half way for gas and snacks.  

“the insufficiency of honesty” dialogue

Stephen Carter explains how telling everything you know can sometimes hurt others. One of his examples included a story about “a man who has been married for fifty years and confesses to his wife on his deathbed that he was unfaithful thirty-five years earlier. The dishonesty was killing his spirit, he says. Now he has cleared his conscience and he is able to die in peace.” (¶ 7)

I agree with Carter, even if the man did confess and the same time he left his wife miserable only for his own selfish reasons. He did not think about how this would affect his wife after he was gone. The man was honest at the time of no risks, but not realizing his integrity is jeopardized. Why decide on your deathbed to tell the person you love with a truth so devastating? Should his wife be sad that her husband passed or the fact that he was unfaithful to her? At that point, you don’t know if hearing the truth is a good thing. Personally, I have no clue what I would think. I’m not sure if I could go on knowing that someone that had made a promise to me was unfaithful. It is definitely a tough subject. I feel that SOMETIMES things are better left untold.

writng topic: rules for writers chapter 4

Chapter 4 is about building effective paragraphs.  Each paragraph helps build support for your thesis.  Paragraphs should always focus on a main idea, and if the subject goes off it could confuse your readers.  In the beginning of most paragraphs is a topic sentence that introduces the main point of the paragraph. The sentences to follow should support the topic sentence, at times adjusting the topic sentence may be needed. In the end, each paragraph should flow with one another by using transitional sentences.


This chapter was very helpful but at the same time made it very hard to even write the summary of the all the main points.  I would write a sentence but then hit my backspace button because it did not flow, and I felt like my ideas were all jumbled up. I still feel that way, but I would be here all night trying to write one paragraph.  When I wrote the first essay for this class, each of my paragraphs were mixed with too many ideas. Now I truly understand why a writer should form an outline before writing an essay.