The Critique of the Five-Paragaph Essay

The Critique of the Five-Paragraph Essay

The five-paragraph essay, a method we have been taught for years, but is it really effective?  I say no.  It is confusing as a student when we are being told to write an in depth paper, yet we are given a limit on how much we are able to express in our writing.  If you are able to fit your entire paper into five paragraphs, chances are you are not saying enough, or it is poorly set up.  It is important that you present the argument, as well as showing the counter argument.  After you do that, you should prove why the counter argument is wrong.  Now we will see why it should take more than five paragraphs to create your paper.

In the article “The Ill effects of the Five Paragraph Essay”, Kimberly Wesley argues that it is more effective to teach the essay in three parts, the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.  If students are being taught to write in a set number of paragraphs, they are extremely limited.  The length of a paper depends a lot on the topic.  Some topics can require the introduction to have more than one paragraph where as others just require the typical one paragraph.  The body paragraphs can serve a variety of reasons.  It is not just to present your point of view, you can use them to define terms, review the reading, present and analyze the evidence for your topic, and arguing the opposing views.

9-19-12 Homework

Summary:
This reading focusses on how people perceive what they are reading.  A good example of this is ads.  The concept of gestalt is discussed, showing that there is different ways we interpret the ads we are looking at.  If there are a group of words or pictures close together, gestalt says that we will group them together.  When you group them together you are getting the message faster because you are seeing it as one big picture.  It is also important to choose your font and size of the font wisely.  The big text can capture the eye and bring you in to read the rest of it.

Synthesis:
This can be related back to our other readings because when we are choosing a text four our research, we are more likely to reading something that stands out and catches our eye.  Not only do we have to be smart about our writing, but we have to be smart about what we choose to write about.  The articles we choose to research will shape our paper so we need to choose one that stands out.

QDJ:
4.) I believe you are supposed to write an essay that follows a specific format because our papers need to be organized.  If you just wrote in a completely unplanned pattern your work would be sloppy and all over the place.  Having a format is a good way to place each thought where it needs to be in order to create a meaningful text.

AEI:
3.) Gestalt is focussing attention on the total visual impact of the text on a prospective reader.  The second definition of gestalt is good continuation.  This means that our visual perception pulls figures out of the background to give them definition in the undistinguished field they are in.  The third law of gestalt is closure.  This simply means filling in the gaps of what we do not see.  The fourth law of gestalt is the law of similarity.  This is when we see resemblance in shape, size, color, or direction and we group them together.  Knowing the definition helps us to understand what the article is talking about because it helps us to follow along.

9-17-12 Homework

IWA:
The concept of intertextuality is not a new one.  This says that all texts have somehow come from other texts, more or less that no writing is original.  In this article, one main document discussed is the Declaration of Independence.  When examined closely it can be said that Thomas Jefferson took ideas from other documents previous to his.  If it weren't for intertextuality, he could be charged with plagiarism based on today's standards.  We are taught to be creative and original with our own writing however, intertextuality challenges that.  I find this reading to tie back to what we have been learning because we are constantly reading about how to make your work your own.  With all the information we have available to us today, it is hard to be creative and original with your work.  It is tempting to model our writing after other works, but we are constantly being taught that we have to write our own thoughts.  This reading relates to our other readings, but also contradicts it as it tells us it is hard not to model our writing after others.
pre-reading: When I think about the difference between an author and a writer, I associate an author with a novel and a writer with essays and education texts.  I would use the term author to describe somebody who is publishing a fictional book that takes our minds to another world.  I would describe a writer as someone writing shorter pieces that are mostly educational.  For example, somebody who writes and essay is someone I would consider a writer.
list of ways I get help in writing:
my mom because she is a teacher
my friends
teachers
my neighbor because he used to be my english teacher

QDJ:
4.) The way Porter argues writing should be evaluated is different than how I thought.  In my mind the writer would be writing for themselves and not what other people think.  It is important to please your reader but that doesn't mean you shouldn't write for yourself.  You can't please everybody when you write so I don't think you should write just for your audience.  However, I feel like in the past my writing has been evaluated this way because we are always being told exactly what and how to write.  In high school papers I always felt I had to write to fit the teachers needs rather than what I actually wanted to write.
5.) I think his article reflects well on what he is trying to say.  The simple fact that there is a works cited page shows that he used other works to create his own.  He did not plagiarize, he made his own point, but he used other works to help make his point.  According to his theory on intertextuality, this is okay to do.

AEI:
2. "If a student uses the help of another work for their paper, it is okay as long as it is cited."  This is somewhat similar to the policy now.  If it is cited then it is not considered plagiarism.  However, with Porter's argument, it is okay to use other works into your own.  The way it is now we are constantly being told that we must create the entire thing to be our own thoughts.

Meta Moment:
Porter's study definitely changed the way I look at writers.  I always assumed they came up with everything on their own.  I now see that they do have help because sometimes you can't make your point without the help of others.  It would change the way I would write because I wouldn't have so much pressure to make everything up on my own.  Sometimes I ramble in my writing because I know that everything I say needs to be my own.  With the help of other works, I would't have to ramble so much to make a point.

9-12-12 Homework

Informal Writing Assignment:
Just because you like to write doesn't necessarily mean you are good at it.  When it comes to writing we are constantly learning new things and growing in our writing along the way.  One way we can improve our own writing is by imitation.  If we follow the strategies proven successful by other writers, we can write a better paper of our own.  This is in relation to our other readings because what we have learned so far is that our writing can always improve.  I thought this was very interesting because I always just assumed people who liked writing were good at it.  Being someone who doesn't like to write, I always believed that there was no hope for me to get better, that only people who liked to write can be good, but this article shows me that is not the case.

QDJ:
1. I think Murray's writing process is definitely different.  The one thing I can relate to is getting up, walking away, and then coming back with a better idea of what to write.  Sometimes you just need to walk away from it to clear your writer's block.

3. This study changed Berkenotter's understanding of the writing process because it directed her into new research.  She sees that all writers are different and it is important that we understand that.

AEI:
1. I don't think my writing experience is very high.  When I am writing I am usually distracted by other things.  I don't set aside the time to focus on just my writing and it causes me to be constantly distracted.    I definitely think that if I spent more time on each step of the writing process that my writing experience would improve.  It is a constant learning process for me.

Meta moment:
One thing I learned from this reading is that I need to focus more time on each step of the writing process.  I think I tend to just jump straight into the writing rather than planning what I want to say first.  This gets me into trouble because I run out of things to say due to lack of preparation.

Summary:
The reading is a good description on a study of how people write.  Berkenotter tested Murray on how he accomplishes his writing.  Once the data is gathered, they proceed to analyze it and discuss the different parts.

Synthesis:
I can relate this to our other readings because it continues to help us pick apart our own writing style.  I does this while teaching us about how other people write.  When we see how other people write we can continue to improve on our own writing.

Personal Reflection:
I thought this reading was very interesting because the way Murray writes is so different.  It puts it into perspective that all writers struggle just as much as I do, no matter how experienced of a writer they may be.

Research of a writer:
I was interested in finding out how Nicholas Sparks writes his books.  The first thing I noticed is that he writes in once characters voice at a time.  I always just assumed you would write all the voices at once so I was surprised to hear this.  He says that he doesn't think about his readers as he writes, he thinks of them as he conceives a story because he wants to conceive a story that they will enjoy.  Another thing I read he does is drawing inspiration for characters from people in his life.

Topic Proposal for Assignment 1

Topic: criticism of a five paragraph essay

9-10-12 Assignment

Libby Evans
English 1510
9-10-12

The Vocabulary of Comics

Summary:

The reading, or comic, describes to us that we see what we want to see.  It is human nature too be able to find our faces in just about anything because that is what we want to see.  If we simplify a drawing of a face then we are left with a simple form, yet we still see the complex version.

Synthesis:

This relates to other articles we have read because when we are doing research we only see the information we want to see.  It is not our first instinct to take it directly as it is, we usually turn it into what we want it to be.

Before you read:

As I look around the room I see a face on the doors of our closet.  It is not extremely close to an actual face but when I look at it I am seeing the face I want to see.  If I look at it quickly I don't see the face because I am not thinking about it. 

ODJ:

2. The comic form is used to convey the point because he references comics in the reading.  He relates the comics to his point in order for us to better understand so simply just writing about it would bore us.  Another big reason is the need for pictures.  Every illustration in this reading is important to what he was saying.

3. I agreed with what he was saying because since there was not much detail on his appearance I was more focussed on the reading itself.  I think we fill them to our own identity because cartoons mean something different to everyone.  Each person interprets the characters personality differently because we are desperate to relate them back to ourselves.

AEI:

4. Our mask causes us to have different perceptions of ourselves than others do.  They see something completely different than we so because they are looking from a different angle.  Without our masks I think our perception would completely change because we would be seeing ourselves as well as others, differently.

Personal Synthesis:

This relates to me because I tend to see people how I want to see them rather than how they really may be.  It is useful to me because it forces me to take a step back and look at things differently.  

Ways of Seeing

Before you read:

As I opened a magazine to compare how a male celebrity and female celebrity were depicted, I immediately noticed that the girls are always posing in a way that makes them seem like and object where as the boys are more laid back poses.

ODJ: 

2. I have seem images of posed women in tabloids.  They are different from the images discussed in the reading because the pictures are more focused on the outfit they are wearing.  This has changed over time because women have become more respected in their pictures.  

4. The audience is someone who is a fan of art.  I believe this because he is discussing specific paintings and the concepts used behind them.

5. The other is referred to as the male as they look at the painting of a female.  Another perspective can change the attitude of the painting because you may be directed to see something you didn't see before. Someone else's view may change yours because you will be opened up to seeing it in a whole new light.

AEI:

1. Underwear ads depict men out to be like the women in the paintings discussed because it forces them to look like objects.  There is a generation gap because in that time men would not be doing a job like that, it was only women being depicted in such a way.  It changes the way it was viewed because back then they would look at is as being completely absurd, but to us it is normal.

Metamoment:

I think this was related to our class because it was all about perception and the way we see things.  That can be tied in how we interpret the things we read.  When we are doing research we have to interpret the information into our own writing and we are all going to see it differently.

Libby Evans
English 1510
9/4/12

Kantz (67-85) Reader Response

QDJ:

1.) In this reading, Kantz argues that facts are simply what the majority believes to be true. She argues that your opinions and arguments can be valid if they are supported by 

2.) -students expect textbooks to tell the truth (or give an opinion they can take a side on)

     -students write down everything they can think of about the topic

     -students omit or jumble information if conflicts can not be solved or they do not take a stance on either the pro or con side

Based on my own experience I feel she is correct.  I am guilty of just assuming that I have chosen worthy enough sources to just believe they are true.  When I read through my sources I write down everything.  In my mind it is all important because I am so concerned about making my paper longer that I am willing to put any and all information into the paper even if it doesn't really help me make my point.  After reading this article, I understand that I have to read through the information thoroughly and pick out the most important parts.  Also, I now know that it is okay to take my own stance on the issue as long as I can back it up. 

AEI:

2.) When you are mixing creativity with research you have to be careful because that you do not over step your boundaries.  It can be hard to start to use your own opinions rather than actual supported facts.  Kantz makes a point that when we read texts we just assume they are true instead of arguing.  This is where creativity can come in.  If you are able to support your argument you should question it if that's what you feel is right.  This thinking has influenced me to want to change the way I approach writing by applying these ideas to my own writing.

Meta Moment:

Kantz is analyzing the constructs of creativity in research writing.  It would be useful for me to understand her findings and claims because she uses an average student that we can all relate to as she makes her point.  As she describes the student, I caught myself saying, "wow, that sounds like me" a few times so I can take her criticism and use it towards my own writing.

Response to Library Videos

Libby Evans
English 1510
9/6/12

Response to Library Videos

Now that I have watched the videos about Alden Library, I realize there is so much more to do there than I previously thought.  I always knew there was a number of services but I was stuck in the belief that they just had books because that is all I am used to.  After watching these videos I can see myself actually going to the library because I feel that they could really help me when I need it, even if it is just a quiet place to study.  I also will take advantage of the tutoring services and writing center so I can ensure that I am doing the best that I can.  These videos show that the librarians really are here to help and that they love the job they are doing.  Because of this I won't be afraid to ask them questions because if they don't know they answer, they will be willing to help me find it. I am glad we watched these videos because they turned out to be very helpful.