Outline: Role of Humorists

Think about the implications of de Botton’s view of the role of humorists (cartoonists, stand-up comics, satirical writers, hosts of television programs, etc.). Then write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies de Botton’s claim about the vital role of humorists. Use specific, appropriate evidence to develop your position.



Thesis: Humorists serve a vital role in society because their jokes help provide comedic relief, advances political debates, and unite people in an enlightened atmosphere. 

Define humor (in introduction) - "the quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech" 

Claim #1: Humorists provide comedic relief in awkward or tense situations. Humor helps ease any uncertain feelings that may be in the atmosphere, and release tensions. 

**Provide examples of how humor helps ease tension-> Social gatherings, when people first meet each other it may be awkward, however humor can help lighten the mood and make people feel more comfortable around each other, and not worry so much about formality

Counter-argument: Humor can backfire, and make people uncomfortable
Rebuttal: however, in general, humor has the tendency to lighten the mood and put people at ease

Claim #2: Humor helps advance political debates, by allowing people to publish cartoons about politicians. These cartoons can help sway peoples' opinions and contribute to elections.

Claim #3: Humor also helps unite people in different scenarios, as it helps people relieve tensions and connect over humorist comments. 
Example: Speakers will begin their speeches with telling jokes to enlighten the mood and connect to the audience.

Synonyms in the English Language

Prove the claim: There are no synonyms in the English language

In the English language we use the word "synonym" to coin words that have similar meanings. However in reality, although some words may seem to be associated with each other, synonyms really do not exist. Each individual word in our language has an entirely different meaning than another word. Words may be used to describe the same thing, however each word is unique and has a slightly different meaning than words that may seem closely related. For example, people often use the words "beautiful", "pretty", and "gorgeous" to describe someone with attractive qualities. However, although these words may all be used to describe the same person, they each have slightly different meanings. The word "beautiful" is defined as: "pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically". On the other hand, pretty is defined as: "attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful or handsome". While gorgeous is defined as: "very attractive". By studying the definitions of each of these words, one can conclude that each word is slightly different than the other. A person who is "pretty" is not quite as attractive as someone who may be described as "beautiful" or "gorgeous". Based off these examples, it is clear that we cannot simply group words into synonyms, as words are always slightly different from others. 

In Cold Blood Post #4

April 28th, 2015

Write a review of the book, rating the novel on a 1-5 scale (1 being poor to 5 being excellent).

 After reading In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5. I thought that Truman Capote did an excellent job with laying out the events involving the Clutter case in this book. Capote divided the case into 4 sections: “The Last to See them Alive”, “Person’s Unknown”, “The Answer”, and “The Corner”. Each of these subsections allow the audience to gradually move more about the case throughout the book. The first section sets the scene, describing Holcomb as a quiet, lonely town- a place unlikely for a murder to occur. It also describes the different characters throughout the book, portraying the Clutters as a wholesome and caring family, liked by everyone. The next couple of sections then go on to explain the murder, the motives behind the murder, and the court process. I appreciated the fact that Capote divided the different events in the murder into sections because it created suspense throughout the book. While reading about the murder, I wondered “what motivated the criminals to murder the Clutter family?” Then once I learned about the criminals motives and how they planned the murder, I wondered how the court system would decide to punish the murderers- as the Christians in Holcomb likely were against the death penalty. 

In regards to the punishment that the murderers received, it seemed like Capote was sympathetic towards Perry Smith. Although Perry was guilty for murdering all of the Clutters, he is characterized as a more thoughtful and respectable character than Dick. Perry seems sensitive and is sorry for what he has done wrong. For example, when Perry is giving his testimony to one of the investigators he states:

“ But I didn't mean it. I meant to call his bluff, make him argue me out of it, make him admit he was a phony and a coward. See, it was something between me and Dick. I knelt down beside Mr. Clutter, and the pain of kneeling - I thought of that goddam dollar. Silver dollar. The shame. Disgust. And they'd told me never to come back to Kansas. But I didn't realize what I'd done till I heard the sound. Like somebody drowning. Screaming underwater” (Capote 157). 

When Perry says this, the audience feels sympathetic towards him. Although he might have killed the Clutter family, he truly felt sorry about committing the murder and was only doing so in order to kill Dick- a ruthless and cruel character. It is clear that Perry feels awful for what he did, as he says: “The shame. Disgust.” I thought that it was interesting how Perry  seemed to be a sensitive character, even though he had committed a horrendous crime. When Perry and Dick are executed for their crimes towards the end of the book, I found myself sympathizing for Perry, even though he was a murderer. I thought that it was interesting how Capote could cause readers to feel sympathetic towards a man who slaughtered an entire family. 

Although I liked this book and found it fascinating, I also felt that it was a little dull at times. It seemed like Capote included every single aspect of the Clutter case- and apparently not all of this information was not even accurate. I think that I would have enjoyed this book more if it didn’t give every single detail involving the case- and had provided the essential facts. However, overall I felt that this book was very informative and had interesting aspects in it as well. 

In Cold Blood: Socratic Seminar Question

In then end, Dewey reunites with Sue. Why does Capote choose to end the novel is this way?

At the end of In Cold Blood, Truman Capote shares what happens four years after the Clutter family was murdered. Capote uses Dewey, the lead investigator in the Clutter case, to explain what happened years after the Clutter case. It seems appropriate for Capote to end the book with an account from Dewey, because Dewey was very involved in the Clutter Court case and determined to see it through. Throughout the book, the audience sees how Dewey sacrificed family time and his daily routine in order to unearth the answers to his investigation. During the trial, Capote conveys how busy Dewey’s life is: “Now Mrs. Dewey said, ‘Alvin, answer me. Do you think we'll ever have a normal life again?’ He started to reply, but the telephone stopped him (Capote 65). Clearly, the Clutter case became one of Dewey’s main priorities, and he barely had time to tend to his family. However, as Capote ends the story with an account from Dewey, the audience is relieved that all the stress from the trials are gone. The case has come to an end, and Dewey seems much more relaxed. It is evident that his family life is more stable, as Capote states: “Instead, the Deweys had built a new house in town; they were proud of it, and proud, too, of both their sons, who were deep-voiced now and as tall as their father” (Capote 217). The audience can understand from this that Dewey has had time to focus on his family and move on in life. The house that is referred to in this sentence also serves as a symbol of Dewey’s stable family life; how they are all united and living together as one family, proud of the home that they built themselves. As Dewey’s account continues, the audience sees him walking through the local cemetery, recalling different deaths while also noting causes for celebration. He remarks that Judge Tate had died the falling autumn, however Bobby Rupp happened to have gotten married. This bit of information especially resonates with the audience because Bobby Rupp’s marriage proves that he was able to move on life, and set aside his sorrow for Nancy’s death.

Dewey’s last account in the book seems to serve as a reminder that people move on in life, and how people can set aside their sorrows to live more stable lives. Truman Capote even incorporates Susan Kidwell, Nancy’s best friend, in the last couple of passages in the story to prove how people can move on. Dewey encounters Susan in the graveyard, and doesn’t recognize her at first. Susan has matured and is finishing her junior year at the University of Kansas- just like she was planning to do with Nancy Clutter. It is evident that Susan has not forgotten Nancy as she remarks: ‘"Nancy and I planned to go to college together. We were going to be roommates. I think about it sometimes. Suddenly, when I'm very happy, I think of all the plans we made’”(Capote 219). Although Susan lost her closest friend in the murder, it is clear that she was able to overcome her sorrow and cherish the best memories. Capote wraps up the end of the book with a peaceful statement: “ ‘And nice to have seen you, Sue. Good luck,’he called after her as she disappeared down the path, a pretty girl in a hurry, her smooth hair swinging, shining - just such a young woman as Nancy might have been” (Capote 219). This statement sets a nice tone for the end of the book, as the audience can infer that people will never forget the Clutters, but they will move on in life and cherish the best memories. 

The Sections of "In Cold Blood" Response

In the novel In Cold Blood, Truman Capote breaks up the murder case of the Clutter into 4 distinct sections. In the first section, Capote introduces the Clutter family and the two murderers- Dick and Perry. The first section of the book serves as an introduction- it gives readers an understanding of who the characters are in the book, and an idea of what will happen in the future. Capote drops subtle hits in the first section that something severe will happen to the Clutter family. For instance, in a passage about Mr. Clutter, Capote states: "Then, touching the brim of his cap, he headed for home and the day's work, unaware that it would be his last" (Capote 6). This hint prepares readers for what is to come in the next section, as Mr. Clutter will die. 

In section 2 of In Cold Blood, the murder actually happens. Capote explains the events of the murder, from a bystander's point of view. The readers know that Dick and Perry committed the murder, but they do not know why or how. The audience only knows what happened when the townspeople of Holocomb found the bodies. Section 2 then sets the way for the next section, in which the audience fully understands what happened the night of the murder. 

In section 3, we actually learn from Floyd Wells (a criminal who used to share the same cell as Dick) what Dick's incentives were for the murder. From there, the police and investigators are able to find Perry and Dick, and gather evidence to accuse them of the murder. This section then paves the way for the fourth section, in which the audience learns about the court trials surrounding this case. 

In Cold Blood: Fictional or Nonfictional?

In Truman Capote's novel "In Cold Blood", he tells the story of the Clutter family murders that occurred in 1959. In this story, Capote reveals what happened in the murder and the events/ investigation surrounding the murder. However, recently more information surrounding the Clutter murders has been released from Harold Nye's notebooks. Harold Nye was a detective who was part of the Clutter cases, however his information contradicts some of the aspects of Capote's story. Apparently Capote included number inaccuracies and at least one fabricated story in his novel, as well as serious implications. Also, Capote favors Dewey in the story in order gain more information about the story- and does not include Dewey's failure to follow up on the investigation at one point.

Personally, I do not think that this book should be considered a non-fiction piece. I think that this is a good book to read because it gives a reader an idea of what actually happened during the Clutter murders. However, readers should not refer to this book as a reliable account of the story. This is due to the fact that Capote over-embellished certain details in the story in order to make it more appealing to readers. If one were interested in finding out the true events and investigations surrounding the murder, it would be best if they read the filed records associated with the case.

Although Capote's piece is not necessarily a non-fictional piece, I think that such a thing as a "non-fiction" novel can exist. I believe that one can find actual facts and pieces of evidence by reading first-hand accounts/ personal records that are meant to simply record events and not appeal to readers.

In Cold Blood Blog Post #3

Capote finally reveals the murder details in his third section. What is your reaction to the actual confession? 

April 20, 2015

In the third section of In Cold Blood, Capote finally reveals the murder details surrounding the Clutter case. Prior to this section, Perry hinted that they must have been crazy for killing the Clutter family. Perry did not think that anyone in their right minds would be able to murder an entire family and get away with it. The audience also learns that one of the reasons that Perry joined Dick was so that Perry could visit a friend (Willie Jay) in Kansas City. However even though Perry does not end up meeting his friend in Kansas City, he still participates in the murder. Perry's actions indicate that he had other reasons for joining Dick in the murder- Perry was not only joining Dick so that he could see one of his friends. Although it is clear that both Perry and Dick had reasons for murdering the Clutters, their incentives are not revealed until the third section. 

In the third section of In Cold Blood, the audience is introduced to a character named Floyd Wells. Floyd seems to be the only one who actually has knowledge of who murdered the Clutter family and why. It is clear that Floyd is a reliable source because Perry briefly mentions Floyd's name before the audience is even introduced to him. In section two of In Cold Blood, Perry questions whether or not he and Dick will be able to get away with their crimes. Although Dick is insistent that no one will find them or  suspect them as murderers, Perry raises a question that challenges Dick's confidence and self-assurance: "'Floyd- is that the name?' A little below the belt, but Dick deserved it, his confidence was like a kite that needed reeling in" (Capote 57). Based off of this reference to Floyd, the audience can assume that Floyd knew some information about the murder of the Clutters. Therefore, it is not surprising when Capote introduces Floyd in the third section of the book as an inhabitant of Kansas State Penitentiary. Floyd reveals Dick's incentives for murdering the Clutters and the audience gets a glimpse of how Dick was able to commit the murder. 

According to Floyd, Dick intended to rob Mr. Clutter and his family when he heard that the Clutters were wealthy. Floyd was the one who informed Dick about the Clutter family, however he did not expect Dick to murder the family. Floyd informs the investigators: “Next thing I knew, Dick was talking about killing Mr. Clutter. Said him and Perry was gonna go out there and rob the place, and they was gonna kill all witnesses - the Clutters, and anybody else that happened to be around. He described to me a dozen times how he was gonna do it, how him and Perry was gonna tie them people up and gun them down. I told him, 'Dick, you'll never get by with it.' But I can't honestly say I tried to persuade him different. Because I never for a minute believed he meant to carry it out” (Capote 99). Although Floyd was responsible for informing Dick about the wealth of the Clutter family and their estate, he did not suspect Dick to carry out his plans. Although Floyd claims that Dick planned to rob the Clutters, it is interesting how the only thing that Dick and Perry actually took was a radio. This was partially due to the fact that the Clutter family kept their fortune secured, and it was not easily accessible. However, even though Dick does not rob the Clutter family, he still murders them. 

As readers learn more about Dick and Perry in the third section, it is clear that Dick had psychological issues that contributed to the murder. It seems that Dick killed the murderers  because he was envious of their wealth, as he did not leave with anything. It is apparent that Dick is envious of people who have a lot of wealth and fortune. For instance, at one point in the story Dick is envious of a man he sees at a hotel, who is living the dream life: "A blonde who resembled Marilyn Monroe was kneading him with suntan oil, and his lazy, beringed hand reached for a tumbler of iced orange juice. All that belonged to him, Dick, but he would never have it. Why should that sonofabitch have everything, while he had nothing? Why should that "big-shot bastard" have all the luck? With a knife in his hand, he, Dick, had power" (Capote 126). Clearly Dick had more of an incentive to kill the Clutters than to rob them- he probably felt envious of them and felt that they deserved to die. 

It was interesting to read about the confessions of Dick and Perry. Even though the investigators had information about both Dick and Perry, Dick continued to lie profusely about what happened. However, I was impressed by the fact that the officers were able to use Dick's testimony against him. For instance when Dick said that he went to the Post Office at Ford Scott on a Saturday and was looking for Perry's sister, the investigators were able to refute his statements. Apparently the post office wasn't even opened on Saturdays, and Perry's sister never lived in Ford Scott. Overall I was impressed with the tactics of the officers, and could tell that they would be able to efficiently charge the criminals with murder. 

In Cold Blood Blog Post #2

April 14, 2015

Although Truman Capote has classified his novel In Cold Blood as a “nonfiction novel”, there are several fictional aspects in this book. This novel revives the true story in which a murder took place in Holcomb, Kansas; Capote also elaborates on the details in the story in order to appeal to the audience. Throughout the novel, Capote uses his narrator to provide the audience with detailed information about each of the characters involved in the murder case. By creating a narrator, Capote seems to connect more with the audience- Capote is not simply reporting on the events of the murder and stating his opinions, like journalists traditionally do. Rather, Capote uses a fictional tone, descriptive details and mythical elements throughout his story in order to captivate the audience’s attention and effectively revive the events surrounding the murder. 

By creating a narrator in his story, Capote effectively sets a fictional tone in his story and connects with his audience. Using a narrator ultimately allows Capote to set himself apart from the plot line, and create a story-like atmosphere. For instance, Capote sets this tone in the beginning of the book by fully setting the scene and making it appear as if it is a ghost town. When describing the town of Holcomb, Capote states: “After rain, or when snowfalls thaw, the streets, unnamed, unshaded, unpaved turn from the thickest dust into the direst mud. At one end of the town stands a stark old stucco structure, the roof of which supports an electric sign- dance- but the dancing has ceased and the advertisement has been dark for several years” (Capote 2). By describing the different aspects of the town- the unpaved streets, abandoned buildings, etc.- Capote is able to effectively portray Holcomb as an isolated and abandoned town. This ultimately has the effect of separating Capote’s techniques from journalist techniques. Although journalists might set the scene for their audiences in the beginning of their pieces, they do not generally go into as much depth as Capote does. Capote’s emphasis on descriptive details clearly separates his techniques from those of journalists. 

Capote also uses mythical elements throughout his story in order to captivate his audience’s attention. In the story, the narrator claims that one of the murderers plans to travel to Mexico after the killing. In Mexico, Perry, one of the murderers, hopes to find treasure and live luxuriously: ”He [Perry] did know the ins and outs of hunting gold, having been taught them by his father, who was a professional prospector. So why shouldn't they, the two of them, buy a pair of pack horses and try their luck in the Sierra Madre? (Capote 57). Readers can understand that Perry will not actually find gold in Mexico, as it is a myth that there are abundant amounts of gold available to explorers. As it was the 1950s when this story takes place, it is likely that most people, especially grown adults,  knew that gold was not available in Mexico. However, it seems that Capote mentioned that Perry hoped to find treasure in order to make the story seem more interesting to his readers. He continues to emphasize on this idea when later in the book, Perry decides to stay with Dick rather than leave him so that they might find treasure together: “Moreover, if he broke with Dick, it meant the end of plans still attractive to Perry, and still, despite recent reverses, deemed possible by both - a skin-diving, treasure-hunting life lived together among islands or along coasts south of the border” (Capote 57). As a bystander of the events in the real murder case, it is impossible for Capote to actually know the true desires of the murders. However continuing to elaborate on the fact that Perry wishes to find treasure makes the story seem more interesting to readers. 

Overall, Truman Capote effectively captivates the attention of his readers by using descriptive details and fictional elements throughout his story. He makes the story seem more relatable to readers by providing them with the different accounts of people in the story, and fully describing different elements of the story- such as the setting. This ultimately captivates readers, and enjoy the different aspects of the story- as it refrains from simply reporting on the event, like journalists typically do. 

Should we abolish pennies?

As the economy has grown over the years and prices have risen, the value of pennies has decreased significantly. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, pennies were an essential component to the economy. They held more value, and people frequently used pennies as items did not cost as much. However, over the years, pennies have lost their value as inflation has occurred and the economy has soared.  Pennies are generally discarded on sidewalks, and left untouched by passing people. In addition to this, few people use pennies when making purchases. Instead they'll pay with checks and credit cards, because it is quicker and more efficient. If the government were to abolish pennies, it would probably even benefit the economy because the government would save money by not producing them.

In Cold Blood Blog Post, April 9th

As you are reading you already know the outcome of the novel. How does Capote still build suspense for his reader?

In the story In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, the audience is already aware that a murder will occur. It is likely that a reader is already aware that a murder will take place, as this story is based off of a nonfictional murder that actually occurred in Holcomb, Kansas. Even if a reader did not have this prior knowledge, he/ she would probably assume that a murder will take place in the book as its title is very suggestive. However, although many readers already anticipate a murder in this story, Capote does an excellent job with building suspense for his readers. He is able to effectively build suspense through the strong usage of imagery and juxtaposition in the opening passages, as well as an anticipating tone throughout the book.

Capote’s usage of imagery throughout his story helps captivate his audience, and build the suspense. By providing detailed information about the murder scene and the characters involved in it, Capote is able to hint at the different aspects that help contribute to the eventual tragedy. For instance, in the beginning of the book Capote portrays Holcomb- the location of the murder- as isolated and abandoned. Capote begins his book by stating: “The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call ‘out there’.” Just by reading this, the audience already views Kansas as a sort of ghost town- abandoned and isolated, a good setting for a crime scene. Capote continues to build the suspense as he makes Holcomb’s condition seem even worse: “ “At one end of the town stands a stark old stucco structure, the roof of which supports an electric sign- dance- but the dancing has ceased and the advertisement has been dark for several years.” By using adjectives such as “stark”, “old”, and “dark” to describe the building, Capote does a thorough job in depicting a run down building. Also by stating that the dancing has ceased, a reader immediately comes to the conclusion that this town no longer thrives like it used to. 

The suspense surrounding the crime scene builds as Capote contrasts the original depiction of Holcomb, as an abandoned an isolated town, with a different depiction of Holcomb. He claims that although Holcomb is a small town and is isolated, it is still prosperous. Apparently there are good educational programs in Holcomb and many opportunities for farmers to thrive. According to Capote: “The farm ranchers in Finney county, of which Holocomb is a part, have done well: money has been made not from farming alone but also from the exploitation of plentiful natural-gas resources, and its acquisition is reflected in the new school, the comfortable interiors of the farmhouses, the steep and swollen grain elevators.” Through this statement, readers get an entirely different view of the Holocomb that was described in the opening paragraphs of the book. By describing the grain elevators as “steep and swollen” and the natural resources as “plentiful”, Capote depicts Holcomb as a prosperous town. This tends to build suspense, as it strikes the reader’s curiosity and desire to learn why the author depicts the scene in both ways. 

As the book continues, it becomes apparent what Capote’s intentions are for using juxtapositional techniques. Capote ultimately stages Holcomb as a small, yet prosperous town, that is relatively safe. A place where no one would suspect a crime scene to take place, as it has been abandoned by most people, and left to the farmers and their families- for the most part. Therefore, it is suspenseful when Capote suggests that a murder is about to take place. Capote builds the suspense, as he takes on an anticipating tone. For instance, in the beginning of the book Capote reveals:  “At the time not a soul in sleeping Holcomb heard them- four shotgun blasts that, all told, ended six human lives.” After reading this, the audience generally wishes to learn more about this event, however Capote keeps the audience in suspense as he launches into the backgrounds of each of the characters involved in the story. But after introducing Mr. Clutter, Capote states: “Then, touching the brim of his cap, he headed for home and the day's work, unaware that it would be his last”. This builds the audience’s anticipation as they become more interested in what is able to take place. Ultimately, Capote is able to grab the audience’s interest by revealing information and building up to the climax of the story. 

Analyzing Visuals

The first thing that I notice when I look at this picture, is the expression on the young girl's face. By examining the girl's face, it is apparent that something is not right with her. She has a bewildered look on her face, and it seems like she has been caught for doing something wrong- and yet she is not disturbed by the fact that she might be in trouble. Instead it looks like she has just come to some type of realization, and is offended that someone would try to accuse her of doing something wrong (perhaps scribbling out bad names about her on the chalk board). Just by looking at the entire picture, it is clear that this little girl is in a school setting. It appears that she is wearing some type of school uniform, and she is standing at a black board. However, it looks like a group of students tried to offend her or bully her because she is scribbling out a bunch of words on the chalk board. It is clear that she has been picked on by several people, as there are different words all over the board in different handwriting. 

Just by looking at this image, I believe that this child is Jewish. She is white- so clearly students would not be discriminating her based off of race. In addition to this, she has a darker hair color and not the ideal fair skin and blue eyes that Aryans have. The words on the chalkboard seem to be written in a different language- so it is likely that this is occurring in a foreign country. Also the photograph is black and white- suggesting that this could have been during the Holocaust. 

As I Lay Dying Socratic Seminar

1. To what extent are the themes of this novel universal? Is this story for the American
   South or a larger audience? How do you know?
   The themes within here can apply mostly pertain to a Southern audience. The themes included in "As I Lay Dying" are extensialism, the concept of a journey, and change. Each of these aspects helps the characters in this book to change overtime- as they question the purpose of life, struggle to conquer obstacles as they follow a path, and learn to accept new proponents in life (such as pregnancy, death, and physical/ mental challenges in traveling on a path). I know that this is aimed at a Southern audience, because Faulkner is critiquing the traditionalist views of Southern society. He uses Addie to mock religion- as Southerners have strict religious standards, and makes Southern living seem unfair and immoral. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. Is Tull and Jewel's search in the river for Cash's tools an act of love or obligation?
   Tull and Jewel's search for Cash's tools in the river seem to be an act out of obligation. I think this because while Cash was hurt, all he wanted was his tools. While he was trying to recover from a broken leg, he kept asking for his tools. Even though Tull shared a strong connection with Cash, it seems like Tull has changed throughout the course of the book and is more concerned with himself than others (especially in the way that he burns down the barn). Additionally, Jewel never seemed to care for Cash, because Cash did not respect Addie as much and built her coffin right in front of her. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. Addie meditates on the distance between words and actions. Is Faulkner saying that words—his own chosen medium—are inadequate? What do Addie's definitions say about her as a woman?
   Faulkner may possibly be suggesting that his words are inadequate. He uses a different style of language throughout his passage, refers to the theme of extentialism- questioning the purpose of life- ultimately suggesting that not everything he says should be taken literally. 
    Addie's passage, she questions the meaning behind life and what the purpose is in even living if everyone dies eventually in the end. Throughout her passage she seems sort of distant, as she narrates her life story. Readers don't feel a strong connection to Addie, and can sense that her only role in life is to provide children from her family. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Humor and the grotesque are often interdependent in this novel, such as Vardaman's accidental drilling of holes in his dead mother's face so she can breathe, the family setting Cash's broken leg in cement and the family's apparent imperviousness to the stench of Addie's rotting corpse. What are other examples? What was your reaction to such moments?
   
   Another example of humor and the grotesque is when Darl burned the barn that had Addie's body in it. Even though this is absurd and shows the extreme change that Darl has gone through throughout the book. In the beginning of the book, Darl had practical mindset and a good sense of logic. He was able to interpret different sides of stories by revealing how other's felt. However, he no longer seems to care about how others feel as he is willing to burn Addie's body. This is sort of humorous in a way because the body smells so bad, and Darl is the only one willing to get rid of it. 
   
   
   
5. The Bundrens must endure a number of obstacles on their way to Jefferson. To what extent are the elements against them, and to what extent do they sabotage themselves?
   There are several elements that were working against the Bundrens on their way to Jefferson. For instance, they have to cross a flooded river, their mules die (that are pulling a wagon carrying Addie's body), Dewey Dell can't get an abortion treatment, and Darl burns down the barn. In each of these situations, the Bundrens sabotage themselves by making things worse. For instance, they all risk their lives by crossing the river and Cash even breaks his leg. But when Cash breaks his leg, they refuse to take him to the doctor and make things work by trying to set his leg with cement. And when they lose the mules, the Bundrens try to solve the situation by selling Jewel's horse. However, Jewel refuses to sell his horse and makes situations worse by running away. The family then must borrow mules in order to make the trip to Jefferson. 
   
   
6. What compels loyalty in this family? What are the ways in which that loyalty is betrayed? Who do you feel makes the ultimate sacrifice for the family? Overall, do you find this novel to be hopeful or pessimistic? Share your comments. 
   Loyalty to bring Addie to Jefferson is only compelled by each family member's personal desire to go into town. Anse wants to go into town so that he can get his wooden teeth, Dewey Dell wants an abortion, Cash wants more tools, and Vardaman wants a train. Therefore they betray Addie because they are only fulfilling their selfish desires to go to town, and are not concerned with bringing Addie to her grave. Darl even tries to burn Addie's coffin because he is tired of his family's behavior and everything going on. However Jewel makes the ultimate sacrifice and runs into the barn to save Addie's coffin- he is the only one concerned with pleasing Addie. I thought that this novel was very pessimistic- it put the South in a negative light in a way as it mocked traditional values- regarding religion, maternal and familial roles.
   

Falkner's Characters

In as I Lay Dying, Darl is the main character who goes through the most change and development.  In the beginning of the book, Darl seems to have a good understanding of what is surrounding him and who he is. He describes things as they are, and has a good perspective on things. His ability to communicate with other characters telepathically also gives the audience a sense of what is going on in the story and makes his opinions seem more valid  (as he gives more context behind what is going on in different situations). However, as the book continues, Darl seems to question who he is. Darl has trouble processing Addie's death, and questions his existence and the purpose of life. His thoughts are more scattered and confusing, as he struggles to process the realities of life. This change in mindset relates to the theme of existentialism- in which a person questions their existence and the point of living. 

The Interview Genre

In the interviews, the speakers all share personal experiences from their lives. While sharing their stories with the audience, the speakers reveal their emotions and feelings in the interviews. In all the interviews, the speakers' different tones of voices convey how they truly felt in different situations. They are able to connect with the audience this way, as listeners can truly understand how much of an impact a scenario had on an individual's life. Listeners can get a sense of the speaker's personality, and live in the speaker's story. For instance, in the story "Here in the States, I don't even know how to talk to people..." the speaker tells the story in which he shot an innocent man in Afghanistan. The speaker shares the psychological trauma that he went through after shooting the man, and how this affected his mentality as a "murderer". The speaker's sincerity on the topic and genuine concern for the man he killed is evident in the way that he tells his story- his voice sounds sorrowful and his wife elaborates the emotional trauma that he went through.

"As I Lay Dying" Partner Questions

1. What characters seem isolated? How are they isolated, despite all being reunited? What

might Faulkner be exploring?

Jewel:

• We see that Jewel is isolated in the beginning of the book, when Darl discusses their differences. 
• "Still staring straight ahead, his pale eyes like wood set into his wooden face, he crosses the floor in four strides with the rigid gravity of a cigar store Indian dressed in patched overalls and endued with life from the hips down, and steps in a single stride through the opposite window and into the path again just as I come around the corner. In single file and five feet apart and Jewel now in front, we go on up the path toward the foot of the bluff.

• Jewel was also singled out as Addie's favorite, and caused her to act deceitful in order to protect him- which was against her morals (this was when he was getting his horse, and nobody knew where he was. 
• Jewel is on his horse while the rest of the family is on the wagon with Addie, bringing her to her family's cemetery  

Anse:

• Anse doesn't like to work- this separates him from the rest of the family
• He does not have a strong bond with Addie: 
• When Addie dies, she does not even look at her husband- she looks at her son instead- clearly there is no special connection between Addie and Anse
• "She lies back and turns her head without so much as glancing at pa. Shelooks at Vardaman; her eyes, the life in them, rushing suddenly upon them; the two flames glare up for a steady instant. Then they go out as though someone had leaned down and blown upon them."

• Explore Cash’s chapter, which is simply a list of thirteen items. Why has Faulkner structured this chapter like this?
• Faulkner has structured this passage as a list in order to show how Cash's motive for going in town is to buy supplies- he's not so concerned with Addie's burial 

• How does the narrative structure of this novel represent time? How is time passing in this novel? 

Double Voice Poems - Cassandra and Alyssa group work

Voice #1:
I am born
I am healthy
I can feel new sensations and feelings
My heart pumps limitless amounts of blood to my new organs
My eyes open up and my brain struggles to process images
I take my first breath
I am born into a new world

Voice #2:

I am dying
I am ill
I have forgotten how to feel alive
My heart fails to pump blood to my dying organs
My life flashes before my eyes
I take my last breath
I am born into a new world

Argumentative Prompt

Many schools now offer bonus points on tests and final averages to students who participate in charity drives and other organizations. Many teachers believe that offering bonus points to students will encourage them to participate in a good cause and provide them with the opportunity to raise their grades. However, many parents believe that this sends a morally wrong message. This is due to the fact that students would only be raising money for charities in order to improve their grades- not to support the charity.  As a whole, teachers should not rewards students with bonus points for donating to charity because it sends a morally wrong message and takes away the meaning of giving/ reaching out to others.

When teachers encourage students to support charities by rewarding them with bonus points, they are sending morally wrong messages to their students. Even though students may be benefitting charities, they do not truly understand the significance of contributing to a charity. Students are only motivated to help charities in order to boost their grades- they are not donating out of the kindness of their hearts. There is something significant about donating to a charity, without receiving recognition or rewards. When a person donates to a charity, he/ she is doing so because he/ she truly supports this cause and wants to support it. This individual feels compelled to donate, and truly wants to make an impact in the world. When students donate to charities in order to receive points, the meaning and sacrifice that it might take to donate money or items is taken away from charities. Students may not be as likely to donate to charities later on in life if there is no "reward" for them. They may not understand the concept behind donating, and truly supporting a cause. 

"As I Lay Dying" Free Write

Rain...cool spring days, flowers, life, cleansing, soothing, refreshing, and new beginnings. Rain is symbolic; people tend to associate it with so many different elements in life. In nature, rain is a naturally occurring event that contributes to the water cycle. It helps nourish plants and animals, circulate seasons, bring an end to drought, etc. However, humans tend to associate it with so many different aspects in life. It has a different meaning for each and every individual that exists on this planet. For instance, a tribe in Africa may see the rain as a gift from their "Rain God". Rain brings an end to possible drought, and promises the start of a new season for crops, which brings life. In contrast, Christians may associate rain with the great Flood in the Bible. In the story of Noah's ark, excessive rain represents God's wrath- a punishment for the disobedience of the people. The rain cleanses the earth of sin, and allows Noah to start a new civilization. For other people, rain may be comforting. The soft patter of rainfall has the ability to calm one's senses, and relieve them from any stress they may be experiencing. In a sense, it has a spiritual element to it- in which one may relax and connect to nature. 

"As I Lay Dying" Chapter 12

In Chapter 12, Darl is the narrator and reveals what occurs when Addie dies. During this scene, the different levels of the relationships that Addie had with each of her family members were revealed. It is clear that Addie never had a strong relationship with her husband, Anse. When Addie is about to take her last breath, she does not even look at Anse. Instead she turns to look at her son, Vardaman: "She lies back and turns her head without so much as glancing at pa. She looks at Vardaman; her eyes, the life in them, rushing suddenly upon them; the two flames glare up for a steady instant. Then they go out as though someone had leaned down and blown upon them." Clearly Addie never had an intense connection with her husband, as she does not even glance at him when she is about to die. Peabody suggests this relationship in an earlier chapter too, when he states that Addie has been dead for years- as she is married to Anse: "I  suppose it's having been a part of Anse for so long that she cannot even make that change, if change it be. I can remember how when I was young I believed death to be a phenomenon of the body; now I know it to be merely a function of the mind and that of the minds of the ones who suffer the bereavement." According to Peabody, one can feel as if they are dead when they do not receive love or care for another individual. Peabody seems to believe that this is what happened to Addie. 
Although it is not indicated that Addie ever had a strong relationship with Darl, he is the one who narrates the death scene. Even though Darl was not present when Addie died, he is the best character to narrate the scene. This is due to the fact that Darl is very honest with what occurs, and open to the feelings of those around him. When Darl narrates, he fully describes what occurs and how others feel about this situation-he does not focus on only his feelings. For instance, when Dewey Dell is upset about her mother dying, Darl clearly conveys her misery: " Then she flings herself across Addle Bundren's knees, clutching her, shaking her with the furious strength of the young before sprawling suddenly across the handful of rotten bones that Addie Bundren left, jarring the whole bed into a chattering sibilance of mattress shucks, her arms outflung and the fan in one hand still beating with expiring breath into the quilt." This description fully conveys Dewey Dell's sorrow on losing her mother. Darl does an excellent job with explaining what is going on in the scene, and does a good job with explaining what is going on. 

Mulit-Genre Piece: Jewel's Journal

June  12th, 1929

Ever since Ma got sick, everyone has been acting ridiculous. The Tulls are at our house everyday, tending to Ma and trying to be good Christians. Cora is always fretting over Ma, and critiquing all of our actions. Dewey Del is alongside her, fanning Ma all the time and concerning herself with her own troubles. It is rather irritating, as fanning will not help improve Ma's condition at all. However, I am extremely irritated with Cash's ignorance. Cash is not thoughtful at all. Every day Cash works on Ma's casket- right outside of her window! This is extremely depressing and unthoughtful- Cash is preparing Ma's casket while she is alive! It is like he is only trying to show off his good carpentry skills to Ma- one last "pleasant" memory before she dies. And Pa spends his days doing absolutely nothing! He never sheds a bead of sweat, and sits around, waiting for Ma to die. The minutes are ticking away, as the family waits for Ma to draw her last breath. Soon it will happen- I only hope she dies in peace, and not at the expense of our family's misery. 

-Jewel

"A Rose for Emily"

In the story “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, there are many conflicts involved, as the story follows the life of the protagonist-Emily Grierson. Emily Grierson is presented as a rather mysterious woman, who is not quite right in the mind. The townsfolk do not understand Emily’s mindset and seem to be aware of Emily’s incapability of dealing with loss. Emily does not seem capable of moving forward in life, and she embraces the Old South- life before the Civil War. For instance, Emily was one of the last descendants from the soldiers of the Confederate Army in her town, and she refused to let her town forget that. According to the story, Emily “…had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town, dating from that day in 1894 when Colonel Satoris, the mayor…remitted her taxes, the dispensation dating from the death of her father on into perpetuity…” According to this information, Emily was regarded as a prominent figure in her town, reflecting her town’s pride of the Confederate Army. However, later on when more modern ideas were introduced into her town, and the town veered away from Old South morals and ideas, Emily refused to pay her taxes. She did not want to lose her title as a member of the Grierson family and refused to give up events that occurred in the past.

Another conflict that is prevalent in the story, is the one in which Emily loses her father. After losing her father, Emily refused to believe that he was dead for three days. Most of the townspeople saw this as acceptable, since Emily was trying to deal with loss, however they change their attitude later on in the story. When Emily becomes sick and hides in her home for many years, it is obvious that Emily is incapable of dealing with loss. She also cannot seem to get over the fact that a piece of her past is gone- her father- and she keeps his portrait in her home. 

It is most apparent, however, that Emily is incapable of dealing with loss when it is revealed what happened to her sweetheart. For a while, Emily was courted by a man by the name of Homer Baron. Baron left Emily for a few days and the narrator suggests that he may have had homosexual feelings, therefore Emily may have been fearful of losing him. As a result, Emily kills him yet it is apparent that she still loves him. This is due to the fact that at the end of the story, the narrator reveals that Emily still slept beside his dead body for forty years: “Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of lifted something from it, and leaving forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-grey hair.” Emily’s fear of loss is apparent in the way that she took extreme measures in order to keep a man whom she loved by her side. 

Overall, based on Emily’s fear of losing the past and things that she loved, it can be determined that the loss is the antagonist of the story. Loss is the enemy because it causes Emily, the protagonist, to take extreme measures in order to preserve the things she loved. Emily refuses to pay her taxes, in memory of the good days, shuns herself from the rest of the world, and kills her lover. Therefore, it can be concluded that loss is the antagonist in “A Rose for Emily.” 

Spring Research Paper: Blog Post #5

Reflection on “The Privilege of “Arrest Without Incidence’”

In the article “The Privilege of ‘Arrest Without Incidence’”, Charles M. Blow questions the event in which a white woman was arrested and left unharmed by the police. Blow revives the news story in which this 45 year-old white female was convicted of shooting local people on the streets and in cars. When a police force arrived to the scene, the shooter led them into a chase and even pointed her gun at them. However, apparently the officers took her in “…’without incident or injury.’” After reviving this story, Blow wonders if the shooter’s fate would have been any different if she were male, black, or both. Blow then goes on to question the stereo-types and fears that have been wrongfully planted into our minds as Americans. Blow states: “The American mind has been poisoned, from this country’s birth, against minority populations. People of color, particularly African-American men, have been caught up in a twister of macroaggressions and micro ones.” Ultimately, Blow is referring to the Ferguson trials in which people were furious with police for killing black males out of fear. The policemen did not appear to be fazed by the white woman who was guilty of crime, however they were fearful of black males and shot several people. Blow even provides examples of black males who were discriminated against during the Ferguson trials: Eric Garner was unarmed on a Staten Island street.Tamir Rice was 12 years old, walking around a Cleveland park and holding a toy gun that uses nonlethal plastic pellets, but he didn’t shoot at anyone.” Blow provides examples of innocent black males who the policemen did not extend peace to. After raising these points, Blow concludes his article by wondering why the police fired at unarmed black males but not at an actual shooter. 

I agree with that the policeman seem to have contradictory views. Policemen will refrain from shooting a white woman with a gun, however they react entirely different to harmless black males. For instance, the young African American boy with a toy gun was not intending on hurting anyone. Yet the police still shot and killed the boy, and did not show any compassion to the boy. I completely agree with Blow that racist views from the past are still integrated into our minds today. In several of the Ferguson cases, the police shot or convicted innocent men with crimes, simply because they were viewed as dangerous since they were African American. I think that Blow raises an interesting point when he even states that whites generally feel like they are treated more equally than blacks are by police. Apparently, only about two in ten blacks “… ‘say they are confident that the police treat whites and blacks equally whether or not they have committed a crime.’ In contrast, six in 10 whites ‘have confidence that police treat both equally.’” I do not think that its right that whites are treated more equally by the police than blacks are. There are laws installed in the U.S. Constitution that require equal treatment of all citizens regardless of race, yet our own police are discriminating against them. Therefore, I agree with Blow that police must treat all suspects equally and hold their fire unless it’s absolutely necessary. 

Overall, Charles M. Blow uses several rhetorical devices throughout his article to advance his argument. Through these devices, Blow is able to efficiently argue that police officials discriminate the black minority. For example, Blow frequently uses juxtaposition to contrast the ways police treat whites and blacks. In the beginning of the article, Blow shares an account with his audience in which a white female shooter is caught by the police. Blow states: “Surely this was not going to end well. We’ve all seen in recent months what came of people who did far less. Surely in this case officers would have been justified in using whatever force they saw fit. Right?” In this statement, Blow refers to the Ferguson trials and the number of people who were immediately shot by the police. However, apparently the white woman was treated much differently than the black men in the Ferguson trials: “According to the paper, the shooter was ‘taken into custody without incident or injury.’Who was this shooter anyway? Julia Shields, a 45-year-old white woman.” The outcome of the woman’s confrontation with the police is evidently different than what happened during other trials. Ultimately, Blow’s audience is able to recognize the different ways that the police treat individuals through juxtaposition, and contrasting events. 

Source: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/opinion/charles-blow-privilege-of-arrest-without-incident.html

Spring Research Paper: Blog #4

Reflection on “How Expensive It is to Be Poor”

In the article “How Expensive It is to Be Poor”, Charles M. Blow argues that a life in poverty is not easy. Blow claims that it is actually “expensive to be poor”. He openly refutes the common misconception that people in poverty can easily survive off of government funds, without doing anything in return. In reality, poor people often work just as hard as everyone else; they simply do not make enough to overcome financial debt. According to Blow’s article, about eleven million Americans fall into this category and cannot escape poverty. In addition to this, the columnist of this article believes that impoverished people also struggle from having to pay taxes. Apparently people in poverty have to pay heavy taxes, so the money they earn does not even benefit them in any way. Blow continues to stress his point on the challenges of being in poverty by raising the issue pertaining to education. Blow makes the point that although people can overcome poverty by seeking higher job positions, it is difficult to pay for education in order to pursue these careers. It is expensive for poor students to attend decent colleges, house themselves, and find some way of transportation. Although there are loans and scholarships available for students in poverty, these do not cover all the costs of college or the expenses of living. By drawing attention to all of these issues concerning poverty, Blow concludes that life is not easy for those who are in debt.

I agree with Blow that life is not simple for those who are in poverty. Although people try to work hard and earn money to support their families, they are often stuck in financial debt because there are other expenses that they must take care of. For instance, according to a new analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: “… in 2015 the poorest fifth of Americans will pay on average 10.9 percent of their income in state and local taxes, the middle fifth will pay 9.4 percent and the top 1 percent will average 5.4 percent.” According to this fact, people in poverty generally pay more taxes based off of their income than the average person does. Therefore, most of the money that poor people make is used to pay taxes rather than sustain a living. In addition to this, I know for a fact that it is difficult for people already in poverty to gain an education and pursue better jobs. Unfortunately many individuals who are not applicable for higher paying jobs, must apply for minimum-wage jobs. Although people may be working hard to perform minimum-wage jobs, one cannot survive efficiently off of a minimum wage. For instance, in Nickled and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich struggles to make a living while supporting multiple minimum- wage jobs at a time. In the end, she even finds that she has to “cheat” several times in order to live efficiently. However Ehrenreich has an advantage that low-income families do not have- they cannot rely on a supply of money to support them. All they have is governmental support and the small amount of money they earn. 

Overall, Charles M. Blow uses several rhetorical strategies in order to convince his audience that it is not easy to live in poverty. For instance, in the beginning of the article Blow provides his audience with a common belief that is contradictory to his argument: “…most wealthy Americans believed ‘poor people today have it easy because they can get government benefits without doing anything in return.’” Blow makes this statement seem absolutely absurd by proposing a counter-argument with intelligent use of diction. Blow argues: “This is an infuriatingly obtuse view of what it means to be poor in this country- the soul-rending omnipresence of worry and fear, of weariness and fatigue.” Blow uses selective word choice in this statement in order to advance his views, and make them appear sophisticated. By calling the apparent views of the upper class “infuriatingly obtuse”, Blow appears more intelligent to his audience and worthy of attention. I also think that Blow’s claim that it’s expensive to be poor is paradoxical. This claim seems to be contradictory, however it reveals a truth. In reality it is expensive to be poor because people in poverty have to pay a higher rate of taxes and can barely afford to survive. Therefore it is expensive for people living in poverty to try to manage an efficient lifestyle. By presenting this paradox in the title, Blow captures his readers’ attention and advances this argument throughout his article. Overall, I think that the strategies that Blow uses throughout his article allow him to capture his audience’s attention and promote his beliefs. 

Source: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/opinion/charles-blow-how-expensive-it-is-to-be-poor.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fcharles-m-blow&action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=Collection&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article&_r=0

Spring Research Paper: Blog Post #3

Reflection on “Library Visit, Then Held at Gunpoint” 

Charles M. Blow’s article “Library Visit, Then Held at Gunpoint” tells of the instance in which his son was inappropriately approached by a police officer. Blow recounts his son’s encounter with an officer outside a library at Yale, and how he pointed a gun at his son. Blow explains how his son, a student at Yale, was forced to undergo the police’s inspection even though he had not committed any crimes. Finally after the officer had examined the son’s ID card several times, it was concluded that the officer had made a mistake. Blow’s son was not guilty of any crimes at all; he was simply mistaken for a burglary suspect. After sharing this experience with his audience, Blow conveys his fury at the police officers for pointing a gun at his son. Blow is not upset by the fact that his son was mistaken for a criminal- he is upset that an officer would endanger the life of his son by pointing a gun at him: “What if my son had panicked under the stress, having never had a gun pointed at him before, and made what the officer considered a ‘suspicious’ movement? Had I come close to losing him? Triggers cannot be unpulled.”  Blow continues to express his fury at the officials for endangering the life of his son throughout the rest of the article. Blow expresses his parental concerns for his son, and wonders what would have happened if his son had shown any potential sign of resistance. Blow ultimately suggests that the police do not act responsibly when encountering suspects. 

I agree with Blow that it is not right for a policeman to point a gun at an accused suspect. Although the policeman thought that Blow’s son was a criminal, the officer had no right to threaten a suspect who was not proclaimed guilty by law. I also think that it is alarming that the police accused an individual of crime based off of his outward appearance.Too often people judge others based on their outward appearance, and make false assumptions. Although Blow does not specifically verify the race of his son, one can assume that his son is the same race as him- African American. Blow alludes to this fact, by verifying that his son was judged by his appearance rather than by his actions. Blow states: “ I am reminded of what I have always known, but what some would choose to deny: that there is no way to work your way out — earn your way out — of this sort of crisis. In these moments, what you’ve done matters less than how you look.” At any given moment, the officer could have easily chosen to hurt the young man, regardless of any laws. Ultimately, I agree with Charles Blow that it is disturbing that people who force the law are violating the safety of innocent individuals. 

As a whole, Charles M. Blow uses several rhetorical strategies to convey his frustration with the audience. Blow makes it clear that he does not approve of the way that officials encounter suspects.  In the beginning, Blow alerts the audience of his concern about a particular issue by stating: “Saturday evening, I got a call that no parent wants to get…He had been accosted by a campus police officer, at gunpoint!” This statement promotes Blow’s outrage, especially since it  ends with an exclamation point. This particular form of punctuation expresses Blow’s fury and rage at the news that he’s about to share. As a result, the audience gets a perspective of the upset tone that Blow will use throughout the article. Additionally, Blow expresses his concern as a father to the audience by only referring to his son as “my son”. Blow never reveals the actual name of his son; however this conveys his genuine care and concern as a father. It is evident that Blow intends to convey his paternal concern to the audience when he states: “What if my son had panicked under the stress, having never had a gun pointed at him before, and made what the officer considered a ‘suspicious’ movement? Had I come close to losing him?” Ultimately this statement expresses Blow’s concern for his son, and strengthens his argument against police using guns against suspects. As a whole, Charles M. Blow effectively conveys his frustration with the officer’s violence to his audience, and justifies his paternal reasons for concern. 

Source: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/opinion/charles-blow-at-yale-the-police-detained-my-son.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fcharles-m-blow&_r=0

Spring Research Paper, Blog Post #2

Reflection on “Reducing Our Obscene Level of Child Poverty” 

Charles M. Blow’s article “Reducing Our Obscene Level of Child Poverty” presents the issue in which many children in the United States experience the hardships of poverty. In the beginning of his article, Blow states that poverty will never be completely obliterated from society. However, he suggests that there may be ways to prevent it from negatively affecting children. Blow claims that Americans should feel a moral obligation to help children suffering from poverty. He appeals to the audience by refusing to critique their opinions and beliefs. This columnist states: “People may disagree about the choices parents make…People may disagree about access to methods of family planning…People may disagree about the size and role of government…But surely we can all agree that no child, once born, should suffer through poverty. Surely we can all agree that working to end child poverty- or at least severely reduce it- is a moral obligation of a civilized society.” Blow continues to stress the importance of helping poor children by providing his audience with supporting facts and statistics. His information convinces the audience of the severity of his proposed issue and persuades readers to consider taking action. For instance, Charles M. Blow quotes a report from the Children’s Defense Fund, stating: “America’s poor children did not ask to be born; did not choose their parents, country, state, neighborhood, race, color, or faith. In fact if they had been born in 33 other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries they would be less likely to be poor. Among these 35 countries, America ranks 34th in relative child poverty…” This fact supports Blow’s belief that action needs to be taken in order to solve the issue of children suffering from poverty. Blow raises the audience’s awareness that America is not as well-off as people typically imagine; children may even be better off in other countries! Blow continues to develop this argument throughout the rest of his article, and suggests that we invest funds into helping children with poverty. He claims that if Americans can put aside their other issues and focus on the critical matter concerning children in poverty, the world would be a much better place. 

As a whole, I agree with my columnist’s argument. I think that Charles M. Blow has a point when he claims that it is important for us to set aside our matters, and focus on a more critical issue. As Americans we get so caught up in our own dilemmas, that we do not take the time to reflect on the bigger issues that are occurring in the world. Although everyone may not agree that it is right to have premarital sex or use birth control, it is likely that everyone agrees that something must be done to stop the suffering of innocent children. Therefore I agree with Blow that it is important to put our focus on issues that do matter and that we can agree to resolve. 

Overall, Charles M. Blow uses several rhetorical strategies throughout his article in order to convince the audience to support his claim. For instance, Blow purposefully states his opinion on poverty in the beginning of the article in order to introduce his perspective to the audience. He intentionally makes a statement and contradicts himself in order to soften his claim and appeal to his audience. Blow states: “I’m not someone who believes that poverty can ever truly be ended — I’m one of those “the poor will always be with you” types — but I do believe that the ranks of the poor can and must be shrunk and that the effects of poverty can and must be ameliorated.” This statement has a negative context at first, however it appeals to a variety of readers. People may find that they can agree with Blow either way; whether they believe that poverty can be resolved or not. This opening statement has the ability of holding the audience’s attention, and encouraging them to read even further to see the author’s point of view. Charles M. Blow is able to effectively create a position, and alludes to conflicting issues in society- such as premarital sex and abortion. Ultimately, Blow’s allusion to conflicting ideas in society stresses the importance of focusing on an issue that can be resolved- children in poverty. Additionally, Blow connects to his audience by promoting questions and offering possible suggestions. For instance, he sarcastically asks readers: “What would we get for our $77 billion, anyway?”. This columnist then goes on to offer suggestions that would be ideal to reducing poverty: “Things like the creation of subsidized jobs, an increase in the earned income tax credit, a raise of the minimum wage, an expansion of child care subsidies and housing subsidies…” Overall, I believe that Blow’s rhetorical strategies help promote his claim and stress the importance of taking action against children suffering from low-income. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/opinion/charles-blow-reducing-our-obscene-level-of-child-poverty.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fcharles-m-blow

Spring Research Paper: Blog Post #1

After browsing through the different columnists and their pages, I made the decision to follow Charles M. Blow. I chose to follow this columnist and read the articles that he published because his articles cover several areas of my interest. In his articles, Blow covers the issues surrounding politics, public opinion, and social justice. Each writer has his/ her unique sense of style and form of writing, and when I saw that Blow covered these areas I was interested in reading his point of view on issues in society. I was also curious to learn about the social injustices within our country and how our society/government deals with them. I figured that if I chose to follow Charles M. Blow, I would be provided with a way to interpret the different social/ political issues in our society- regardless of whether I agreed with him or not. 

Additionally, the different titles of Blow’s articles captivated my attention when I was searching for a columnist to follow. For instance, the article titled “Reducing Our Obscene Level of Child Poverty” caught my attention. I was interested in reading this article when I first saw its title because the issue surrounding child poverty strongly resonates with me. Ever since I went with my church on a mission trip to Guatemala, I have always been very aware of the effects that poverty can have on families and individual children. Therefore, I was interested in hearing what the author had to say about this topic.

As I read Blow’s article about children in poverty, I found that I enjoyed his writing style. Rather than making accusations against different groups and their beliefs, Blow gets right to the issue. In his article “Reducing Our Obscene Level of Child Poverty,” he recognizes the fact that people may not always agree on different issues in society, however everyone can agree that children should not suffer from poverty. I appreciate the fact that Bow is not judgmental of different group’s beliefs and convinces his audience of the severity of his issue by providing facts and statistics that support his beliefs. I also appreciate the fact that Blow does not limit this form of writing to one article. In the article “ A Future Segregated by Science”, Blow continues to promote questions to his audience and offer possible suggestions backed with evidence. Blow's style of writing is not biased because he presents his points and allows his audience to make their own judgements. He does include a bit of sarcastic humor in his articles and promotes his own beliefs, however his points are persuasive and open to interpretation.  As a whole, I think that I will enjoy reading Blow's articles because they will provide me with interesting information and allow me to make my own inferences on society’s issues. 

Didion Blog Question Assignment

“Didion’s essay deals with memory, identity and writing. Think about your own memories, identity and writing that you have done. How does writing shape who you are and how you reflect on your life? Give specific examples. ” (Hint: you writing doesn’t have to be formal writing—think about social media, texts, images, as well as the writing you do in school)

Didion’s essay “On Keeping a Notebook” reflects the impact that writing can have on an individual’s life. Throughout her essay, Didion discusses the significance of keeping a notebook and recording events throughout her life. She claims that a writer does not have to record every single detail throughout his/her life; simple notes can symbolize great events. Didion provides an example of a seemingly meaningless note that she once jotted down: “That woman Estelle…is partly the reason why George Sharp and I are separated today. Dirty crepe-de-Chine wrapper, hotel bar, Wilmington RR, 9:45 a.m. August Monday morning.” To a reader, this note may seem pointless and confusing. However, this note is significant to the author because it has meaning behind it. This note allows Didion to recall memories from the past and reflect on the development and process of her thoughts. Didion goes on to explain the meaning behind this note, and prove to her audience why it reminds her of who she is as an individual. Didion clearly believes that writing allows one to focus on themselves and on what they want to write, rather than what others expect from them. She emphasizes this point by stating: “We are brought up in the ethnic that others, any others, all others, are by definition more interesting than ourselves, taught to be diffident, just this side of self-effacing…And so we do. But our notebooks give us away, for however dutifully we record what we see around us, the common denominator of all we see is always, transparently, shamelessly, the implacable ‘I’.” Didion clearly believes that writers should not follow the style of writing that others try to enforce. Rather writers should focus on themselves and “shamelessly” pronouncing themselves as individuals. 

Didion’s message on developing one’s identity through writing is relevant to the lives of writers today. Despite issues that may be occurring in the world. jotting notes and keeping records of events allows an individual to focus on themselves. For instance, Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who kept a journal during the Holocaust. Although Anne had to hide away with her family in the back of an apartment with several other people, she found that keeping a journal allowed her to focus on herself and develop her identity. Even though Anne knew that she would probably not survive the Holocaust, she used her journal as a way to continue her legacy. For instance, in her journal Anne says, “ I don’t want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death.” Anne Frank’s journal served as a source of hope. She seemed willing to accept her fate as a young Jew in the Holocaust, as long as she could convey her thoughts through her journal. Even though Anne would not be able to reflect on the notes and thoughts that she recorded in her journal, like Didion did, her future audience would. Once Anne’s diary was revealed to the nation, people were able to understand the hardships that she was forced to undergo as a young adult. However, Anne continued to grow as an adolescent by keeping a journal and developing her thoughts. 

Overall, writing can allow one to grow and discover who they are as an individual. Writing can have several different purposes. For instance, Didion uses writing to remind her of who she is and what happened in the past. In contrast, Anne Frank used her diary to convey her thoughts to potential readers; she could still make a difference in the lives of others, even after she was gone. Although both Didion and Anne Frank may have had different purposes for writing, they still expressed themselves as individuals, unconcerned with the thoughts of others. As a whole, no matter what a writer’s purpose may be, he/ she can learn to truly express themselves and uncover their identity through writing.   

Work Cited: 

"Anne Frank, the Writer." The Diary of Anne Frank. Anne Frank House/ Anne Frank Fund, 2012. Web,01.Feb 
2015. <http://www.annefrank.org.au/About-the-Diary>.