TOW #3: A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson (IRB)

As a kid, my parents would take my siblings and me hiking all the time. Before I could even walk, I was put in the baby carrying seat, and off we would go into nature. Since then though, there have been less and less trips. Schedules get busier, everyone grows up, and family hiking trips fall to the wayside. This book, A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson, reminds me of those times, hiking with my family. Bryson has written many other books, and this book is his own memoir of hiking the Appalachian Trail, so he has an appeal to ethos in that sense. Bryson's account of his trip on the Appalachian Trail was both funny and serious. One simile that Bryson uses is the comparison to walking on the trail, and taking a young kid to a crowded amusement park. He describes the feeling of putting the kid on his shoulders, then having to put him down. "Of course, Jimmy bawls and won't go another step, and your partner gives you that disdainful, I-should-have-married-the-quarterback look because you haven't gone the 400 yards" (37). The whole comparison was wonderfully written and very funny. It was the perfect example, because it allowed the audience to truly understand the struggle of the trail. Bryson continues this light tone into later pages. It's obvious that this hiking journey is hard and frustrating,, but rather than complaining the entire time, the author keeps the story entertaining and humorous. There are also points when Bryson makes the story a little more serious and reflective. At the end of daily hiking, he was describing the experience of it, saying you are "...reflecting in a distant, out-of-body way that you have never before looked this closely at lichen, not in fact looked this closely at anything in the natural world since you were four years old and had your first magnifying glass" (36). The way that he uses "you" throughout the book makes the memoir seem that much more casual and easier to relate to. His diction is powerful, whether it be to create a funny, light, lonely, or reflective tone. As of right now, I believe that the purpose of this book is to tell people what is truly found in nature. Yes, it can be scary, hard, and trying, but it is also beautiful, insightful, and breath-taking. I really enjoy this piece so far, and reading it really makes me want to start hiking again, to immerse myself in the seclusion of nature once more.

TOW #2: AT&T Commercial - It's Not Complicated "Jokes"

Commercials have never been my favorite aspect of the television business. I've always regarded them as interrupters to my highly important and anticipated shows. My views slightly changed though, when I saw the first It's Not Complicated commercial from AT&T. It is obvious that the marketers for this increasingly popular cell phone company know what they are doing. The purpose of the commercial, as clear as any other, is to buy the product. In this case, AT&T providers want you to pay them to be your cell phone provider. The way they go about persuading audiences, though, is very unique. Everyone has a soft spot in their heart for kids, and by bringing out that emotion, the speakers can demonstrate a very high level of pathos. The kids in all of the commercials are extremely funny and sweet. In this commercial particularly, one of the children tells a joke, and another one of the kids does not understand the humor. It has a major "awww" factor. The writer of the commercial used the humor along with the youthful freedom of the kids to create a  tone of happiness and sunshine, which is something that rarely shows through during those long commercial breaks. The audience of these commercials would be TV watchers, but more directly it would be parents who pay for their service providers. Any parent would feel a nostalgic connection, and think about their own children at that age. This makes AT&T more rateable and friendly as a company. This commercial also strengthens AT&T's ethos. The writers create a persona, of welcoming and family-based ideology, which makes customers feel comfortable. I personally look forward to seeing these short clips when I turn on my television, and laugh at each one every time. Even though it is media, and so much these days is scripted, to me these commercials feel fully genuine. While other providers seem to always be manipulating in their commercials, these do not give off that vibe. They give off the feeling of honest innocence, and that is why they are my favorite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wguSXbUe2hw

TOW #1: Hearing You Out, Nicholas D. Kristof

Ten years ago, in America, the country Syria was most likely unknown to many U.S. citizens. Back then, we heard a lot about were Iraq and Iran, maybe Afghanistan, but Syria was not yet the breaking news story that it is today. Until today, I did not really have the chance to educate myself about this topic. I just assumed that this disaster in Syria would not affect me, and that it would pass soon enough. Today though, I came across an editorial from the New York Times that interested me. Unlike most articles that just state opinions, this piece takes the opposing facts into consideration. The author of "Hearing You Out," Nicholas D. Kristof, rebuts common arguments that are against interference in Syria. When I first began hearing about the topic, I thought I was definitely anti-interference, because I believe that war should be used only as a last resort, and also because America's previous attempts in the Middle East have not worked out very well. It is clear that America's decision regarding the attack of Syria will be crucial in world relations. Kristof is obviously supporting the interference into Syria, and is trying to explain himself while also persuading others to agree with him, through the use of counterarguments. The author graduated from Harvard University, then moved on to study law at Oxford University. He has traveled all around the world, so it is clear that he has experienced many cultures and seen firsthand what life is like outside of America. Kristof has been writing for the New York Times for almost 30 years and has been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes. He has written countless pieces over his life, this just being one. One of the first lines of the piece, "since I’ve obviously offended many readers by supporting missile strikes on Syria if it doesn't give up chemical weapons, let me try to confront directly your objections," confirms that Kristof is writing to to those that were offended by his previous pieces, and therefore, those who are against missile strikes on Syria. To get this across, he utilizes a question-answer format. The author takes the complaints from readers and forms his whole article around them. For example, one of the questions was "So you want to reduce Syrian suffering by bombing Syrians? Seriously?" The thing that I especially loved about this editorial was that Kristof was very aware of both sides of the argument. He was not discounting any specific side's opinions, or saying the opposing statements were stupid. It was very clear that even though he had an opinion of his own, he was still being professional and cordial to those with other ideas. It also showed that he was willing to stand by his opinion, even if many did not agree. This article made me more aware of all the factors that affect this decision and made me more interested in the political aspect of the situation in Syria. It also forced me to rethink where I would stand if I were forced to make this choice. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/opinion/sunday/kristof-hearing-you-out.html?ref=todayspaper

IRB Intro Post: 1st Marking Period

For my first Independent Reading Book, I have chosen to read A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. My mom recommended this book to me after she read it, and I think it is going to be very interesting. This memoir is about a man that decides to hike the Appalachian Trail with a friend, returning to America after living in Britain for 20 years. I have heard that Bryson has a humorous style in his books, which helps this book to read more like a novel. From this book, I am hoping to learn more about the Appalachian Trail, and hopefully I will be able to connect to Bill Bryson's experience, having hiked a few pieces of the trail myself.

Additional Resources Used

http://www.wordwoman.ws/bio.html

http://www.vcfa.edu/writing/faculty/patricia-smith

http://www.madgemckeithen.com/about/biography/

http://www.sycamorereview.com/paul-crenshaw/

"The Washing" by Reshma Memon Yaqub; The Best American Essays 2011

The essay “The Washing” by Reshma Memon Yaqub is about the traditional Muslim ritual of washing a relative’s body before death. The “relative”who died was her brother’s fiance's grandmother, called Dadee. Even though she and Dadee were not yet related, the narrator was asked to help clean the body with the other female relatives in the family. The cleansing is an honor to participate in, and as the day goes on, you can tell that the narrator begins to appreciate the process more and more. She knows that when she dies, there will be relatives there to ready her for her burial. It was easy to understand because Yaqub used comparison techniques such as similes. “By the end, I look like a cross between an overzealous nail technician and a Transformer” (220). This pop culture reference helped me to imagine exactly the appearance of the narrator. Also, when she was referring to the beliefs of her religion, she said, “...when a soul that’s headed for heaven emerges out of its body, it slips out as easily as a drop of water spilling from a jug” (220). That excerpt also informs the reader a bit about Islamic culture. The author was intending to inform readers about this process that I personally had never heard of before. It was also a story intended to present the realization that this is a great experience. At first she was nervous, but she got used to the idea quickly. It is such a unique opportunity, especially compared to what other cultures in America do. Reshma Memon Yaqub is Muslim, which gives her background on the traditions of that religion. She was also a police reporter, which she mentions in her piece, giving her experience in attention to detail while writing. When writing, the author probably intended for the audience to be Muslim women, or anyone interested in this cultural procedure. Though I am not Muslim, nor was I interested in this process before reading, I really enjoyed reading this piece. Her similes and other descriptive methods really taught me a lot about the washing and portrayed her message.

Transformer Comparison to Washer

http://lenscanvas.com/16-most-amazing-fan-art-digital-paintings-of-transformers/transformer-autobot-bumblebee/

"What Really Happened" by Madge McKeithen; The Best American Essays 2011

The essay “ What Really Happened” by Madge McKeithan is a very well written piece that deals with having a close friend who was murdered, and the process it takes to recover from that experience. It is written in a very unique style, utilizing second person point of view. This means that McKeithen is telling the audience what to do, rather than telling the readers what happened. This technique strengthens the essay because it portrays the grief that the character must be feeling and the order of going through the motions of life after this traumatic experience. The story starts with the main character setting up a meeting to visit the murderer and continues as she struggles to deal with each step.“If you must leave a message, say I am considering visiting...and use the offender’s name...Say I am a friend of...and use the victim’s name. Say you would appreciate his thoughts on what to expect, given his knowledge of the offender’s mental state” (137). McKeithen’s diction was extremely powerful throughout the rest of the essay as well. She used repetition at one point, which made a huge impact on the reader. “Notice the rain on the rental car. Notice that the town is still quiet. Notice that there are more sailboats than cars in this town called Oriental” (139). Madge McKeithen’s writing skills were honed when she attended William and Mary in Virginia, and after that Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies for her graduate degree. She has had jobs writing on Capitol Hill and has also worked for Princeton University. She now teaches at The New School in New York. With jobs like these, it is clear that McKeithen is very talented. In a way, this essay is like a guide. It is obvious that the character is upset, but it can also be seen that she is searching for the strength to understand and forgive. The style is straightforward, which gives the piece more power. As the essay is about confronting a situation, anyone can relate it to something in their life, but due to the fact that it is about a murder case, the audience would probably tend towards adults who can handle the mature content. This piece was one of my favorites, it actually gave me chills at a few points. The author’s diction, especially through the use of repetition really brought the meaning across. 

Imagery of Setting

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/RenoSoHill/616?gallery=

"Lucky Girl" by Bridget Potter; The Best American Essays 2011

The essay “Lucky Girl” by Bridget Potter is a very interesting story about a girl in the 1960s who is pregnant during the time when abortions were illegal. She does not mean to get pregnant, being young, and just recently independent from her childhood, so when she finds out about the pregnancy, she is willing to do anything to get rid of it and pretend it never happened. Also, since she is an unmarried woman, there are plenty of consequences for pregnancy, such as unemployment or social ostracization. She and her boyfriend try the superstitions they thought might undo the pregnancy, but in the end none of them work. Finally, she goes to a doctor to see about an abortion, but there is nothing he can do because of the law. She keeps looking, and ends up (as a last resort) going to a clinic in Puerto Rico with a lot of borrowed money to get the procedure done. In the end, the baby is aborted and the main character is not infected, hence the title “Lucky Girl.” There was a high chance of infection due to the fact that no professional doctor would break the law. Near the end of the essay, Potter alludes to Dante’s Inferno when she says “the name of the place was the Ninth Circle, the lowest region of Dante’s Hell, below which lies only Lethe, the river of forgetfulness” (154). This reference can be related to the narrator’s situation, having gone through hell to get her baby aborted. Even in her situation though, she is not in a place where she can forget what she had to do. This piece was a memoir by Bridget Potter, having experienced this same event when she was only nineteen. Potter is now an executive producer, having worked her way up in Hollywood. She has a degree and an MFA in nonfiction from Columbia University. While there, she instructed in the University Writing Program. Having worked for most of her career in media, she knows a lot about engaging an audience and getting her message across. I believe that Potter did an impeccable job of informing about her experience during a different time, especially through her use of allusions, which helped the reader to connect. The intended readers would be anyone who is going through a time of difficult choices.

Map of Dante’s Hell; Allusion to the 9th Circle

http://www.clockworksky.net/rp_dante_hell.html

"After the Ice" by Paul Crenshaw; The Best American Essays 2011

The essay “After the Ice” by Paul Crenshaw is a very moving memoir from a first person point of view. Crenshaw describes the night that his nephew was murdered, along with the many nights surrounding it, including the trial, and Thanksgiving the year before.  As the story continues, the truth unravels, providing the reader with information about the nephew’s stepfather, who murdered the young boy, and how the narrator handles the situation. Crenshaw beautifully describes the setting of the essay, connecting the sadness of death to the coldness and isolation of winter. The strength and symbolism of each word pulls at the audience’s emotions. Through his powerful diction, he conveys the message of grief and loss and provides a realistic insight to what comes after. Rather than just stating the actions of the murderer, the author delves into what could be going on in the killer’s mind, and what might have truly happened. It was different from other stories because rather than only hate, the main character tried to also understand the event from another point of view. I believe that Crenshaw is trying to send the message that there is more to every situation than what can be seen from far away. The story of the murder can not truly be told by newspaper articles. Any human who is affected by a loss due to murder would be an understandable audience for this piece. “After the Ice” allows readers to know that they are not alone in their feelings. The main character has a muddle of emotions in his head, and they do not always make sense. Because of this, readers are able to connect to the emotions. I believe that the vulnerability of this piece that Paul Crenshaw created allows the message to be clearly conveyed, along with his usage of symbolism and imagery. Crenshaw now shares his writing talent with future generations as an English teacher at Elon University. 

Imagery of Setting

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/AfOh5/0