Well, you should all be well into your books by now and able to comment on the following prompt. Before you do, however, there are a few things to remember:
1. Please make sure you are following standard rules of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, etc.
2. Read through your response before you post and make sure you have addressed the prompt completely.
3. When commenting on others' posts, consider the elements of the prompt as part of your discussion/comment.
4. This blog prompt ends Sunday night at midnight. You should be at least 2/3 of the way done with your book by then. The final prompt will be next week and you will have through Sunday Nov. 29th to post.
Finally, I really love how some of you judge the reliablity of the author-use of factual information, honesty in the writing. Just because the point of view is first person, doesn't mean it's honest writing or that the narrator is reliable.
Prompt:
In class, we have been examining author's purpose and the use of rhetorical appeals. So, what is your author's purpose and what rhetorical appeal is being made/used. Furthermore, what rhetorical device(s) is he/she using to accomplish that purpose? Be sure to include a passage from the text that would support your response
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In the book "Drive", by Larry Bird, Larry's purpose to writing the book is to provide an insight to who he is as a person, instead of just focusing on what most people know him as, an NBA great. I think I can honestly say that Larry does not use a great deal of rhetorical devices in "Drive", but that doesn't mean there aren't any. One device that he does seem to use more often is an anecdote. One of the more prominent anecdotes is the one that tells how Larry first falls in love with basketball. In this anecdote, Bird writes about his first major high school basketball game in which he got to play. He describes how he was the last string player on the team and got an opportunity to play in an important game. After describing his unreal performance and how he led the team from a defecit to eventually win the game, Bird says "That day my life was made. From then on, I decided to dedicate myself to being the best basketball player I could possibly be." This anecdote is extremely important because it marks the beginning of the incredible basketball career of Larry Bird.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "The Glass Castle", by Jeannette walls,she tells about her horrific childhood. Her parents are alcohloic, manipulative, and selfish, but even though her parents are bad they are very smart, vibrant people who make there kids learn to care for themselfs. I think the big purpose of Jeannettes writing of the book is that it sends a message of forgivness to her readers because thats how she was her whole life, even though her parents were so irresponsible. I had a hard time finding rhetorical devices. Two big ones I found though were metaphor and symbol. These may not be true rhetorical devices but an exsample of these are "I held the match close to tinkerbells face.. I relize to my horror her face is melting.. almost immediately her face cooled and hardened again.. I wish I could have preformed a skin graft but I would have to had cut her into pieces." Motif is the biggest rhetorical; or maybe you could say element, in this book. an exsample, "the first is that of faith or as dad always says,'have I ever let you down?'" Throughout the book the dad always asks that question and it contradicts because, yes he lets the kids down all the time.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "The Privilege of Youth" the authors purpose is to tell his story and bring hope to those in similar situations. Since the author is telling a story and not really trying to persuade someone about something his only rhetorical devices apply to pathos or emotion. One simile Pelzer uses is right after he's found his first two real friends he describes the group and himself. "Of the three of us, I was like a hyperactive puppy constantly in motions..." For the most part though, because of what the authors been through, there's not much of any emotion in the book. The author indirectly explained this when he talked about how a child he was able to "turn off" pain, hunger, and other feelings. I think that now he just does that without realizing it.
ReplyDeleteLandis: curiosity, in your book does Larry Bird mention high school life and grades etc?
ReplyDeleteSammy: I'm a bit confused what did the author mean by when talking about melting tinkerbell?
Mary: Larry talks about his high school life and the small town that he lived in but he does not mention grades. Also, what situation was your author in as a child?
ReplyDeleteSammy: Does the dad know that his "question" is contradictory or is he being serious about it? Also, what does the doll quote symbolize?
ReplyDeleteThe book I'm reading "Notes from my travels" by Angelina Jolie even though it's just her journals she does have some consistently use of rhetoric mostly rhetorical questions that of course should have an obvious answer,yet it kind of doesn't.
ReplyDeleteTo steal supplies?, to take hostages?, to make human shields? basically Angelina asks her self what are the rebels from Africa doing what they do... no answer was given, but a readers answer could be, like from me they are fighting for their country, but reality you need a government to have a steady country and other readers could have answers too. She also has some parallelism that I think wasn't meant to be there because as she quoted she isn't a writer she is just writing her experiences regardless there are some for instance they have nothing no clothes no home.... they are smiling. It's not a it's light and there is dark, but from the description of words or word choice she chooses you do see some parallelism it does make me realize the opposite effect of the words she did choose like having no food and fish for dinner or hotels and refugee camps which are just like huts!. Even though I'm just reading this book I can't help but cry and feel so guilty about the things I do like buying make-up or new jeans when they're literally naked running for their live in many countries in the world just worrying for their lives and their family. But in a way I am in this country full of opportunities and can't help, but to do the things I do. Slowly reading this book makes me want to make a difference and I think I could, but it will take some time. I am still in a phase where I feel like odd because of some of the horrors I read in this book like an African amputee boy only 7 and that's not all it, it would be much harder to have experience it in reality so I tip my hat to Angelina.
Landis: I liked the strong effect of the anecdote starting his life towards baseball I'd like to hear more different forms of how he used rhetorical device.
Mary: I couldn't understand what exactly you wanted to say if he used some rhetorical devices or not or not at all?
In the Book "A Wolf at the Table" the author, Augusten Burroughs', basically tells the story of his relationship with his father, and how it drastically changes throughout the years, ultimately showing the authors purpose to be to inform the reader of his life/relationship with his father. The main rhetorical appeal that draws me into the book is Burroughs' use of pathos. The rhetorical device I see most commonly used in the book is a similie, and second, metaphors; multiple other rhetorical devices such as parallelism and hyperbole are used as well. One of the passage that best shows the use of these devices is as follows: "There is another memory, later. I am in the basement sitting on a mountain of clothing. The washer and dryer are living pets; friendly with rumbling bellies. My mother feeds them clothing. She is lifting away pieces of my mountain, placing them into the mouth of the washer. Gradually, my mountain becomes smaller until I can feel the cool of the cellar floor beneath me.
ReplyDeleteA form on the wooden stairs. the steps themselves smell sweet and I like to lick them but they are coarse and salty; they don't taste as they smell and this always puzzles me and I lick again, to make sure. The thing on the stairs has no face, no voice. It descends, passes before me. I am Silent, curious. I don't know what it is but it lives here, too. It is like a shadow, but thick, somewhow important. Sometimes I make a loud noise and I cover my ears. And sometimes it goes away."
Sammy: Your Book seems somewhat like mine, and one of the main rhetorical devices I found in "A Wolf at the Table" was metaphor, also.
ReplyDeleteIn The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass' main purpose is to recount on the painful truths about slavery and how he rose up to overcome those things and become an influential figure in the black society. He doesnt use a lot of rhetorical devices, yet I have found some while reading. He uses an allusion when comparing the wealth of Colonel Lloyd, his owner, to the riches of Job. Another rhetorical device used was the anecdote of when he witnessed his aunt getting whipped until the blood soaked the floor. The passage this was taken from had this quote: "'Now, you d--d b--h, I'll learn you how to disobey my orders!'... I was so terrified and horror-stricken at the sight, that I hid myself in a closet, and dared not venture out till long after the bloody transaction was over." This created a vivid mental image that allowed me to really see the horror and pains of slavery.
ReplyDeleteLandis, judging by both of our responses I think that anecdotes might be the primary rhetorical device used in an autobiography because, if you think about it, and autobiography is really one big anecdote. I would like to see how your book ends up because it sounds interesting. Good job!
ReplyDeleteAshton, you say the purpose of your book is to describe the relationship with the authors father and how it changes throughout the years. Is it generally a good relationship or a bad relationship?
Max, The relationship between the author and his father doesnt seem to be a good one, every night when the father would come home the author would try to hug him, but the father would push him away and slap at him; the author, because he was young when this happened saw it as a game, but the father was actually abusive, and almost always drunk. Many other things like that also occur throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteAshton,
ReplyDeleteYes i agree with your opinion on how our books are similar. I dont get a huge idea though of how pathos is used like u stated. How does the author persuade the reader?
Jeun,
I had a hard time trying to figure out from your writing what the big purpose of the book was. Besides informing the readers what is out in the world was there any other purpose? Your book sounds really good and I could see how it could touch the lives of people.
In the book "My Journey with Farrah," Alana Stewart writes to provide the truth of Farrah's battle against cancer and the real Farrah. The purpose in this book is to show awareness of cancer and importance of courage and strength. Though it is mostly her journal entries, Stewart still provides several rhetorical devices. The majority of the book contains ethos as she includes prayers to God and describes the connection between her and Farrah, and the devistation of watching her best friend suffer. "If it were me, I would never be this brave. I'd be out of my mind with fear. But maybe once the shock has worn off, you're too busy walking through it to be afraid?" She includes much imagery with similes and connotation. "The fact that it is a journal and is dated like a journal is almost a device on its own because it makes it seem more personal and easier to feel attached to what she is saying. She makes allusions to other people and events from that time. So far it's a pretty good book.
ReplyDeleteI feel that in my book, A Beautiful Mind, Sylvia had a drive for writing about John Forbes Nash Jr. She doesn't seem to have had any connections with him other than the fact that he was an extraordinary, well known, prodigy figure in mathmatics. I think it can be argued that she might have had another or more purposes for writing about him, but I don't think those would include because he was "popular" like most people do just to get to "know" a star. I feel as if she wanted to take his life and make it an example to show anyone who read the book that even though you have limited chances for getting what you want out of life you can still do it and go even further. What led me to this, and even increases my trust in Slyvia as a writer, is that on the back of the book it says she's an economics correspondent. This means she reports by writing of how people use what little resources they have to meet their desires.
ReplyDeleteSlyvia so far uses alot of ancedotes to get the reader a feel of how it was like for Nash Jr. A few of her ancedotes that would show this are "His teachers labeled him an underachiever. He daydreamed or talked incessantly and had trouble following directions...His fourth grade report card, in which music and mathmatics were his lowest marks, contained a note to the effect that Johnny needed "improvement in effort, study habits and respect for the rules"". This next ancedote was between his mom and dad "All decisions involving the expenditure of money, no matter how modest,were carefuly considered; very often the decision was to avoid, put off, or reduce". The third ancedote "College is a time when many ugly ducklings discover that they are swans, not only intellectually but socially...Nash was not so lucky. While his professors single him out as a potential star, his new peers found him weird and socially inept..."He was the butt of people's jokes because he was different." From reading those you can tell she primarily uses the rhetorial appeal of pathos. By writing these ancedotes she is trying to get the reader to feel for him. He didn't live in a rich home, or was ever socially accepted and treated fairly amoung his peers, nor had he always been smart (he was smart, an autodidact, he just thought abstractly and was better at more complicated problems)
The author’s purpose of my book "Apollo 13" is to give the reader all views and sides to the tragic mission. He shows the public side by showing that many lost interest in the space program after Apollo 12, “The mission of Apollo 13 was never one that seized the imagination of the country…What was it by now? – the fifth and sixth men who would walk on the moon.” Until news got out about the Apollo 13 O₂ tanks explosion, it was just another mission. The author uses many rhetorical questions and has a great balance of ethos, pathos, and logos. By showing the affect on family members of the crew, he establishes pathos. “Marilyn listened and felt suddenly sick. This wasn’t what was supposed to happen. Before Jim went back out there, this was precisely what he had promised would never happen… Marilyn turned from the screen and covered her face.” Marilyn, the wife of the commander of Apollo 13, was the author’s main insight to the crew’s families.
ReplyDeleteWell first of all I would like to clarify part of my first post when I said that the book is told from a third person. The farther you get into the book you see that the author (Art T. Burton) seems to switch between 3rd person when explaining Bass’s action as well as parts of the book which are articles or letters from the 1800’s to 1st person when reading diaries of the main character himself. As far as the purpose of rhetorical appeal, the author states in the beginning of the biography that Bass Reeves was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma but still his accomplishments were greatly overlooked. Because of this, the authors main goal is tell the story of such an important and interesting individual through explaining many hardships (such as being arrested for the murder of his friend William Leach and chasing dangerous criminals) he lived through so that he can receive proper recognition for all that he did. The rhetorical devices he uses most to tell Bass’s stories is the emotional (pathos) and intense feeling you get when reading. A good example of the intensity you can feel when reading is displayed in a passage from pg 170. “Bass smiled to himself as the lightning lit up the man’s face. The long trail was over. He was facing Bob Dozier.”
ReplyDeleteAshton- Your book seems very interesting. The title of your book A Wolf at the Table seems to be using a foreshadow, based on what you said about the relationship between the father and son not having a good relationship. So did your author, the son, become abusive to everyone else since he thought being slapped by his father was a game?
ReplyDeleteMax- When you say "He uses an allusion when comparing the wealth of Colonel Lloyd, his owner, to the riches of Job", what does that mean? As in how does he was an indirect reference to compare the two and why? I don't think I would ever want to read your book. It seems way to graphic.
In the book, "Glass Castle", Jeanette Walls, a writer with a terrifying past, talks about her unbelievable childhood. Unfourtnately, she was not the one who made the decisions, her parent's were. Her parents were selfish alcoholics who had taught their children to fend for themselves. Her father used a lot of motif, he seemed to always say, "Have I ever let you down?" The answer in her head was yes, but she wanted to say no. Walls makes herself believe that her life is going well, when reality is, she deserves better. Sometimes, I get frustrated reading this book because I want to jump in and just knock some since into the parents, but reading this book has taught me how lucky I am today. This book is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteChristina W.-
ReplyDeleteYour book fits you pretty well, I'm not surprised you picked something that dealt with space. I actually have read the book, "Apollo 13", and it has a lot more meaning to it then the movie, just like any other book.
Kelsey R.-
Your book sounds really interesting. Farrah was a great actress. I liked her very much. The way she died was tradgic and I can only guess the book is interesting. It sounds like your learning a lot about, not only her, but cancer as well.
Max, I thought that was quite insightful of you to make the connection of an autobiography to one big anecdote. I see that your reading the narrative of Fredrick Douglas and I'm wondering if you think he might exagerate some stories beacse of the fact he was an activist at the time due to his personal bias?
ReplyDeleteLandis, because of the fact that Larry Bird is such an icon and star that most americans have heard of do you think the telling of his story is even more necessary so that misconceptions or lies about him from the press could be disregarded?
ReplyDeleteIn the book I am reading, “Trail of Crumbs” the author, Kim Sunee’s purpose, is mostly just to tell her story. What I took from this is that she just wanted to get her story out. Telling about the loneliness, and the road to forgiveness. When Kim Sunee was little, her mom abandoned her. In the story, you can tell that it has been haunting her and affects her daily life. The rhetorical devices she used mostly applied to pathos; “Trail of Crumbs” is full of emotion. “As they proceeded with abandonment papers, I scrambled to the ground to gather the crumbs, insisting: She told me not to leave. She promised she’d be back. “ She repetitively repeats this throughout the story. By repeating this, Sunee basically tells you that she will never forget it. Sunee also says; “My omma, my mother, had left me a tiny fistful of food that had crumbled in the three days and nights of waiting- endless hours of darkness with huge shadows and no promise of return.” Sunee wrote this book, so that maybe, if her mom was out there, she would read it and realize the trust she lost.
ReplyDeleteJessica-
ReplyDeleteSince the book made you mad when you read it, did the author make you feel like you were there?
Kelsey R-
Your book sounds good. I know I'd be really scared if I were in her place. I don't know if I would write a journal. So that sounds really interesting.
First I'd like to clarify that i meant pathos in my earlier post. Although, there is some ethos, too, because Stewart is always trying to do the right thing for her friend and she does include some religious insight. But "My Journey With Farrah" is definitely more of a pathos piece than anything else.
ReplyDeleteAshlei: Our books seem similar in that they both use pathos, which seems to be a repeating pattern in many of these biographies. Do you think that could be because they are so personal? You're book seems haunting and sounds good.
Jessica S: Thanks, this book is pretty good and I am learning a lot about cancer. It makes me feel lucky to not have to be going through what Alana and Farrah went through, but your book sounds like it has that effect, too. Many kids these days probably take their parents for granted way too much. It's interesting that the character takes what seems like a rhetorical question and answers it with a completely opposite response as would be expected. I'm assuming that's because she's scared?
Yeah, a memory is the thing you have, that's only yours, and I'm sure it must have taken a lot to put it out there, for everybody to read. Yours sounds really interesting too!
ReplyDeleteIn the book Open, I think Andre's purpose is to reveal to the world his real life and his real feelings. He used it as a way to get his past off his chest and to come clean with the press. I think his message has a lot to do with learning about the important things in life, and making them your priorities. He mainly uses pathos, or emotion when describing his journey. Some rhetorical devices applied to pathos include the obvious similes and metaphors, but also a lot of anecdotes and rhetorical questions. "Now, rising from the center of the fatigue comes the first wave of pain. I grab my back. It grabs me. I feel as if someone snuck in during the night and attached one of those anti-theft steering wheel locks to my spine. How can I play in the U.S. Open with the Club on my spine? Will the last match of my career be a forfeit?" As you can tell, Andre uses the questions as a kind of self-assessment tool.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "Poster Child" by Emily Rapp, the author is basically just trying to get the reader to understand how hard having a disability can be. She tries to get you to be in her shoes to see how many struggles she has just in everyday things we take for granted. She uses pathos to get her emotion out. A passage that proves this would be "I tried to shift my weight but i could not. I could not bring my legs together; i could hardly move. Now i was angry as well as confused." Throughout this book you can feel Emily's emotion come out. You can feel how angry, scared and alone she felt, and you realize how easy you have it. Emily Rapp wrote this book so that the readers can appreciate the life they have and not take it for granted because there are people who have it so much worse.
ReplyDeleteThis prompt is tough to respond to for me. It seems to me as if the author, Leo Durocher, just wrote it because he could. It's a fun book full of many fun stories, but it doesn't really have a purpose other than entertainment. He might look as if he's trying to impress upon you the importance of winning and doing it whatever way you can, like him, but it's not entirely clear whether he cares if he convinces you or not. He constantly portrays himself as good, though he also knows his shortcomings. Leo Durocher uses logos, I guess, in this passage: "If a man is sliding into second base and the ball goes into center field, what’s the matter with falling on him accidentally so that he can’t get up and go to third? If you get away with it, fine. If you don’t, what have you lost? I don’t call that cheating; I call that heads-up baseball. Win any way you can as long as you can get away with it." He's explaining logically how "heads-up baseball" can be better than complete following of rules. Ah, this response sucks. Sorry, but it's hard to answer.
ReplyDeleteBen S.,
ReplyDeleteIts interesting how your author switches points of view like that. What effect does that make on the story, what was he trying to do? I think our books are similar in that they both portray someone who has a story to tell to the world, their purpose is to inform others.
Landis,
My book doesn't have too many rhetorical devices either. I guess athletes aren't too keen on them. But Andre does use a lot of anecdotes like the author of your book. Mine are to mainly express the pain of the past. What are yours for?
Ah, for a rhetorical device, I just realized, there's TONS of anecdotes. It's basically a book of anecdotes. Here's one: "After Koufax went out, I just thought, To hell with it. Alston would give me the take sign, I’d flash the hit sign. Alston would signal to bunt, I’d call for the hit-and-run. They were throwing the first pitch right in there to Maury Wills, knowing he was willing to get on with a walk. “Come on,” I told him. “Swing at the first one, don’t let them get ahead of you. You’re not just a runner, you’re a hitter. Rip into it.” Goddam, when he wasn’t bouncing the ball over the third baseman’s head he was ripping line drives down the right-field line, something he had never done before. I was letting him hit on the 2-0 and 3-1 counts, something he had never done before either. The more he hit, the more he ran, and before you knew it his fielding had got better. I never “saw” a take sign from Alston with any of the speedsters—and how they loved it. The whole team knew what I was doing, and they were saying, “Just keep going, Leo. Goddam, we never played like this before. It was always played tight to the vest around here before but now, Christ, we're playing wide open.”"
ReplyDeleteHa, that's better than logos or whatever I BSed before.
Sammy-
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds really interesting. It sounds really intense. Does it use a lot of pathos to really get your emotion?
Kelsey-
Your book sounds a lot like mine. It seems like they both use pathos to represent the struggles they went through because of health issues that they could not help. And they both had set backs.
The original purpose of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is so that Ben can tell his son of some of the stories of his life. Throughout the book though, the purpose seems to change to almost like a self help book where Ben is using himself as a model. The rhetorical device that is most prominent in the piece is the use of anecdotes. One of these examples is in the third chapter when Ben is in Philadelphia and he goes up to a boy selling bread and tells him to give him 3 pennies worth. When he sees the quantity he says, "I was surprised at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walked off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other." This anecdote is somewhat humors because he is walking down the streets of Philadelphia with big loaves of bread in his hands.
ReplyDeleteSarah:
ReplyDeleteNice use of the word autodidact. XD
Your book sounds interesting, but I bet it would be even better if it was written by the dude himself. As it is, you can never be sure if she's reading into him right.
In the book "Benjamin Franklin, the Autobiography", by Benjamin Franklin, Franklin successfully gives the reader an idea of how Franklins mind works. Unlike most of the others books the class is reading, there is not necessarily a turning point in Franklin's life where he becomes inspired to change something or do something better. Franklin's life just seems to function on a series of ups and downs, more less irrelevant to anything drastic, even the death of his son. Though varying in character, Franklin continues the pattern of most authors by using anecdotes. Franklin does this to try to establish greater understanding of his life for the reader. One of my favorites is how he forms his religious beliefs. Franklin stumbled upon a series of books of a man named Boyle. He lectured what would become the basis of Franklin's religious beliefs. Franklin states, "I grew convinced that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life." Franklin also uses many aphorisms, which he is most famous for. One example is, "But that the most acceptable service to God is doing good to man." Though this does not contain much humors whit or probably would not be dubbed a "saying" ,this aphorism contains advice that also relates to his religious beliefs.
ReplyDeleteBen, I think it is interesting how your author switches points of view in the middle of the piece. Does this change the overall meaning of the text or is it just the way the writer has written the piece?
ReplyDeleteThis is a response to everybody:
ReplyDeleteI notice most people are getting the same sort of stuff: "So they could let people see what their life was like first-hand" as the purpose and anecdotes as the primary rhetorical devices. It seems as though biographies have sort of an archetype (Yes! vocabulary word used! I think I deserve bonus points, Mrs. Scott)
In A Rip in Heaven, the author's purpose was to inform the audience what homocide victims and suspects go through. The purpose was to show the readers that when a murder happens the real trouble comes afterword. The real pain and suffering begins after the deed has been done, not during the murder itself. The book also describes the flaws of the American Justice system and the media and how one mistake can ruin a person's life. The author focuses mainly on the scarring done to the family of the victims and how the pain and the memories never seem to fade away. She basically says that sometimes time doesn't heel all wounds. The rhetorical appeal that she uses most in pathos. She describes how everyone feels and how there is a cloud of sadness perched on her family forever because of what happened. She puts her readers into the situation and tries to make them feel as she and her family did during their hardship. For example: "Her hands covered her face and she rocked back and forth slowly. Her cry was so high and so sharp that it was soundless, but her breath somehow pierced the air nonetheless.Their father knelt in front of her with his arms helplessly around her shoulders, trying in vain to comfort her. The pink blush of reluctant dawn was creeping to the windows, and the room was thick with grief. The first night of their new life was over"
ReplyDeleteA rhetorical device that the author used quite often was figrative language to put her readers in her situation.
Joel:
ReplyDeleteI liked the anecdote of forming his religious beliefs as well. You did remind me that I forgot all about the use of aphorisms when writing my response though. What do you think of the book so far?
In my book “A Wolf At The Table” the author Augusten Burroughs shows his purpose by telling his readers of his horrible childhood memories and how they still effect him today. Burroughs uses Ethos to better describe his dad’s riveting rage toward him and his mother, “To my astonishment, my father was mad. And his hands instead of being busy with the card like I’d planned came directly at me and swatted. Smack, smack, smack. He smacked my shoulder”. Farther in the story Burroughs uses pathos to show his emotion on no matter what his father does he still loves him, “I replied,” “Good night. I love you,” “My voice rising to an invitation”.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteLandis:
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you find inspiriting out of your book. Byrd's story truly is great. Its seems as if his life is based of a series of events that build on each other, this one included in the anecdote being the first.
Zartasha,
ReplyDeleteThat book sounds really good it sounds like a very informative book definatley something I would be intrested in
inspiration, sorry. way to go Microsoft Word.
ReplyDeleteIn the book I chose,"James Herriots favorite Dog Stories", the author's purpose is to inform the reader's on how man's best friend can be such an influence on one's life. Jame's Herriot, being a veterinarian, has plenty of experiences with dogs. He records memories of his favorite dogs, which include a few different rhetorical devices, such as onomatopoeia's and parrellel structure. Here is an example of an onomatopoeia used in this book, "Like all old dogs with a chronic heart weakness he had an ever-presnt bronchitis and I listened without enthusiasm to the symphony of whistles, babbles, squeaks and bubbles which signaled the workings of Prince's lungs."
ReplyDeleteIn the book, "Horse Soldiers" the author, Doug Stanton, purpose is to tell of the Nothern Alliance horse soldiers and the American undercover solders that defeated the Taliban. Stanton is talking in the third person as a journalist or news person. He describes each member of the Special Forces Team as though he knew them personably. My guess is that he was a soldier of the team later in the book. He also discribes the Afghan soldiers as great warriors and legendary braveness (don't know if that's a word). He uses a balance of ethos, as the story's background and storyline, and pathos with his descriptions of the land, people, culture and battles. When I first started the book, I was stereotypic of the Afghans in that they were all out to get us; but as a read the book, and Stanton's in depth details, he describes them as "a passionate people, whom stone faces and cold eyes hide the want and love of freedom and the rights to which side (Sunni or Sanni) to rejoice. They want us and we want them..."
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds just like mine the whole abbusive childhood is a sore subject but it roped me in. I agree with you when you said you wanted to knock some sense into her parents thats exactly how I feel I just cant believe people treat their kids this way.
Luke:
ReplyDeleteI like your choice of anecdotes. This is one of the lighter sides of the book.
As far as my opinion of the book, I believe Franklin writes too much detail into his personal life. I do not necessarily need to know what happens as far as business transactions and where he stayed on a particular night. Some of the story seems irrelevant.
Amanda-i can relate to what your book and author is saying, for there is an older dog in my neighborhood. Also do you mean onomatopoeia or personification?
ReplyDeleteSammy,
ReplyDeleteWas the quote you used an example of symbol? If so what did it symbolize?
Landis,
In your book, is there an ancdote that Larry Bird uses, that reflects him as a person and not a basketball player? If so, what does that ancdote say about him as a person?
Landis-
ReplyDeleteI have read that book and it is a great choice
Andre Agassi's purpose for releasing his autobiography is to allow his fans and readers to really see what has gone through his mind and to let them into his life off the tennis court. He uses logos as his rhetorical appeal by revealing some controversial things about his life. Many of his stories include things that could potentially, and now have damaged his legacy. For me, I now respect him more because everyone makes mistakes, but he has the nerve to share them rather than hide them. That takes courage, honesty, unselfishness, responsibility, and dedication to live his life to the fullest. Those are some truly honorable traits of a wonderful human being.
ReplyDelete"Plus, Andre, it's Friends...this is like my U.S. Open." A tennis analogy, the surest way to make me disconnect from her desire...(219)
This quote reveals that Andre was angered by the thought of tennis at times and his weak relationship with his wife, due to his lack of effort in contributing to his marriage and doubts of pursuing it. But once again, he is not afraid to speak 'openly' about his personal accounts because he wants people to know everything about him, no strings attached.
--Scott Shores
Jessica: I like how you put your opinion at the end of your blog, it helps show how well you understand your book. It sounds like a good book that can help you realize how lucky you are. However, what kind of rhetorial devices were used?
ReplyDeleteJeun: I like how you include your rhetorical devices, and explain them. Your book sounds very informational about Angelina Jolie.
In the book "Guts" by Gary Paulson, he talks about how all of the things that happened to Brian Robeson in the book "Hatchet" also happened to him.Since he is telling us about his childhood, i didnt find any rhetorical devices used. As he grew up, he has had many near-death encounters with the wilderness, has been in plane crashes, has had heart attacks, and other deadly things. "I thought i was going to die" supports this, when his first plane crash down on a river bank.
ReplyDeleteHey Christian,
ReplyDeletegreat job mentioning the ethos and pathos as direct example of his rhetorical appeal. You did an excellent job getting his purpose across.
I think I need to read your book because I still think the Afghans are out to get us haha!
--Scott Shores
In the book, "American Son", by Richard Blow, Richards purpose is to enlight John F. Kennedy, Jr. in what he did as a writter, and as a person. Richard Blow describes John as a well rounded person he shows how the magazine John started up as an inspiration to speak up for what's right. Richards purpose is not in a negative way but in a way that people can understand were he is coming from, and were John took him into his life.
ReplyDeletePhilip I can relate to your book because the book that I am reading is coming from a perspective that shows how someone is dealing with life resonable situations. Also I would like to take a look that that book it sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, the autobiography of Benjamen Franklin, the author's purpose is to provide a summary of his life to offer inspiration and insight into certain famous events. It mainly follows his intellectual development as he becomes an influential writer. Franklin uses a lot of logos in his descriptions of business deals, but mixes in ethos in the dissolving of his friendships in order to promote his business ventures. Pathos also comes into play with Franklin's complete conversion to deism during this section, typical of the Age of Reason. I think an underlying purpose of this book is to show that one can become extremely influential and revered regardless of what trials stood before them. Franklin is saying that he is far from perfect by describing many low points in his life that would've likely tarnished his reputation. The combination of ethics and logic provide a very strong basis for the lessons Franklin is trying to get across.
ReplyDeleteJake S, why does he still love his dad? is there any logos to justify him loving his dad after years of abuse?
ReplyDeletejeun, why was she using rhetorical questions in her own journal? obviously it wasnt meant to be read by anyone but her. Is she trying to show that even she has a hard time answering questions that have tragic answers?
Landis,
ReplyDeleteI can tell you must really be into your book. Larry Bird is a boss. I am impressed with the personal insight you give about your book and close attention to detail.
Nice job
--Scott Shores
In the book "A Lost Boy" Dave Pelzer's purpose is to tell about his confusing, sad, and hopeless journey through the foster care system as a child. A rhetorical device that is used in his story is pathos. He shows a lot of emotion. One time he says, "I nibbled away at my salad. I felt so sick and hollow inside." This is part of his confusion and sorrow for himself. The author does not really use any rhetorical devices that I have been able to pick out. So far this book is very good.
ReplyDeleteZartasha:
ReplyDeleteFrom what i understand so far your book is pretty much about the injustice of our Justice system?
Philip:
I believe I have read that book before! It's really pretty good. I hope you think its as good as I did!
In my book, Tweak, the author is telling his journey about relapsing on drugs and the road back to recovery. I would say Nic Sheff uses pathos mostly in his story to appeal to other people's lives and experiences. He uses a lot of devices like metaphors for comparison and a lot of rhetorical questions to prove his point. An example would be, "How can you feel good about yourself after stealing your little sister's diary for a place to write down a drug dealer's number?"
ReplyDeletePatrick and Joel: Is Ben Franklin's biography interesting? Does it include what he thought about the struggles of his time?
ReplyDeletemiguel: yea it is a good book, ill let you borrow it after im finished and you can read it, if you like stories about wilderness, you will like it.
ReplyDeletebetty: yes i do think its good, because those are the only type of books i actually read.
In Malcolm X's autobiography, there is a balance of ethos, pathos, and logos to convey his purpose: which is to appeal to the people with troubled pasts and make them realize that they can turn their lives around, like him (malcolm x). Pathos is the dominant appeal throughout the book because he uses his background to reach out and connect to others who may be struggling. Logos is used to justify many of his conclusions, such as: "the Chinese were severely, beaten, with Chinese-invented gun-powder. The Treaty of Nanking made China pay the British white man for the destroyed opium..." This example is a historical comparison, somewhat of an allusion to history, further "proving" his point that white men have oppressed others considered "different" from them.
ReplyDeleteTasha: You're book sounds really interesting. Does it allow the murderer to explain himself as well? Also, does it show what victim's families go through when the police can't find the killer?
ReplyDeletemax,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I notice the similarities between our books. Also, i had trouble coming up with specific examples of rhetorical devices used; both books are mainly filled with anecdotes, rather than metaphors, similes, etc.
In the book "Save Me From Myself" by Brian "Head" Welch, his purpose of writing this book was to shed light on all the wrongs he had done in his life and to warn others from following the same path. The rhetorical device that he uses is pathos. He uses his emotion about how he feels his life had gone and how he changed his life around. Throughout the whole book, he is telling all of his memories and experiences with drugs, alcohol, and rock n' roll. He shows great emotion with how he came to find Jesus. This book has heart wrenching moments when Head recites his prayers and explains how he asked for forgiveness for how he was doing bad things and not being a role model to his daughter.
ReplyDeletePatrick- Do you feel as if Benjamen Franklin's book is inspiring you? If so, how?
Philip- Reading this book, does it make you a bit more "edgy" when thinking about camping? After I read "Hatchet" in 6th grade, it freaked me out a bit. I was afraid of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere by myself.
In the biography of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, the author presents the facts of his life, it is as simple as that. The author does not bring emotions into the piece. The main rhetorical device used is ethos, and there is some logos in the biography. "Then in October, 1850, Tom received orders to go to Fort Meade, Florida." This is an example of the many facts presented with dates and events attached.
ReplyDeleteIn my book, ”John F Kennedy” by Joyce Milton, the main purpose seems to be to inform you about JFK and provide a few details that some people might not know about him. The main rhetorical appeal that is being used is logos. There is not a lot of pathos or ethos because the book is meant to inform. One rhetorical device that is used frequently is anecdote. There are several instances were a particular event is focused on. One such event was, while fighting in World War II, his patrol boat that he was in charge of crashed into a Japanese battleship. He managed to save most of his crew and had to swim great distances to bring them food and find someone to rescue them. This particular anecdote was an experience that changed JFK’s life drastically.
ReplyDeleteCT, I like how in your book there is a balance between rhetorical devices. I bet it really gives an insight into all corners and can be completely explored.
ReplyDeleteBetty, your book sounds very emotional, and heart-felt. It seems like it gives a very good look at the thoughts and emotions of the child.
Dylan,
ReplyDeleteYeah, the balance helps make a lot of what he says believable; there are a lot of eye-opening points made by the logos and ethos he uses. in your book, however, i bet it brings a much more factual side of things, which is good in some cases, because it eliminates bias.
In the book “Notes Left Behind” by Brook and Keith Desserich they are really taking about how they are parents keeping a diary of their daughter Elena’s struggle through brain cancer. The main person writing the passages is her father and his point of view is that he never spent time with his daughter and now he wants to spend all 135 days with Elena. Since this is a diary I found it hard to find rhetorical devices, but in the book the dad is taking Elena for a drive and he decides to let her drive for the first time. And the mom calls her “Queen of the grass” I thought this was funny that a six year old little girl is getting to drive and her mom gave her such a funny name. Also one day Elena is having a hard time with not being able to see any of her friends from school and she is frustrated there for she won’t talk to anyone and this is like the climax of the diary entry that day. The father also uses a hyperbole when Elena is playing with a toy car and he say “she just loves that car, she played with is for the entire day” I know this is an exaggeration because she did not really play with it for the whole day.
ReplyDeleteZar-Tasha-
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds really sad! It sounds like the author does a really good job at trying to show you how the victums felt.
Jessica Sutlief-
Your book sounds really sad but really good at the same time. Alot of people seem to be reading it. I'm guessing the author uses alot of pathos in the book.
Christian Taylor: I think we will notice many more similarities as these books go into further detail. I am wondering if maybe Malcom X was influenced by the way Frederick Douglass lived his life.
ReplyDeleteBen: I do believe that personal bias could be involved in these stories, yet I find it extremely hard to believe that his anecdotes of people getting brutally whipped could be fake.
Sarah: I don't really understand your question? Could you clarify?
In my book "A Child Called 'It'" by Dave Pelzer, I think his purpose is to give people an insight into the life he had to suffer through, and what it really is like to be abused. Most of the rhetorical devices he uses are similes, to convey his emotions and situations better. The one that sticks out most in my mind is when he said, "When I was given the luxury of food, I ate like a homeless dog; grunting like an animal at Mother's commands. I no longer cared when she made fun of me, as I hurried to devour even the smallest morsel." Hearing similes like these, it really makes you feel for him.
ReplyDeleteSarah
ReplyDeleteWow! You had so much to say about you book. Great you must really be enjoying it. Is your book anything like the movie or do they just have the title in common?
Landis
I like how you are always the first to comment on the post. It gives second block something to talk about. Do you think your book is told better because it is in first person or do you think that it would have been better to tell it in third person?
Jennifer S: Your book sounds good, to me it seems like it would almost be hard for some guys to put a lot of emotion into anything..let alone a story about their past.
ReplyDeleteBetty G: Reading what you put about your book makes me wonder when he is ever going to get a break! I think it's really important that he use pathos in his writing because it gives you a better sense of his experieces.
In the book George Washington Carver, by Anne White, White’s purpose is to inform the reader on the remarkable life of George Washington Carver. White’s autobiography about Carver’s life is inspiring and intriguing to readers. What Carver did with his life is truly amazing. He overcame extreme obstacles, including racism and poverty, and educated himself in a time when blacks didn’t get educated. White uses a wide variety of rhetorical appeals to develop her book and accomplish that purpose. She uses personification, metaphors, similes and hyperboles. One example from the book of hyperbole is, “All the joy had gone out of the world.” On the other hand White uses similes to emphasize and show how well Carver can use his hands. This is important because how good Carver was with his hands are what made him famous.
ReplyDeleteAmanda,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your author, and I bet most people do, that best friends, dog or not, can have a huge impact on someone’s life. I know my dog has had a big influence on my life. How does the author use ethos? I would think it would be mostly pathos.
Kelsey,
I can see how it being a journal would make it seem more real. It would get deeper under the readers skin and show them what that situation was really like. My book is in third person so I don’t get the effect it being in first person.
In my book, The Pursuit of Happyness the authors purpose is to make the reader feels as if they're in the life of Chris Gardner. He is struggling with money and his family and his siblings and just when he thinks it cannot get worse it does. The Ethos part is that it's just life you gotta live and work just like everyone else, no questions. Emotionally he tries to dig into the reader and make them feel what he feels, and the author does a great job at this.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, that's reall cool having quotes from the family and everything too. The book sounds good because i love music and i think it'd keep me interested.
Ceara, that book seems great. i liked how you showed each rhetorical appeal and examples, it helps to understand it more.
im reading the book " Tuesdays with Morrie". his purpose to writing the book is to provide an insight into the life of Morrie and himself he has lost the man he was so respectful of and he wants to get that back, by telling his story and creating a connection.one of the major devices in the book is a anecdote, to explain what his life is about and his struggles. he uses this in the quote "Take my condition. The things I am supposed to be embarrassed about now not being able to walk, not being able to wipe my ass, waking up some mornings wanting to cry there is nothing innately embarrassing about them. It's the same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it." this is important because it shows insight in to his life what pain hes going through and how he need someone.
ReplyDeleteSarah has so much about her book see must enjoy it a lot or is just a good typer, but that's good to see someone that really getting into her book.
ReplyDeletealso Dylan l does stone wall have an interesting life? you don't go into great detail about it but a =n auto biography seems to be just facts about some one its really better for someone to tell there own story.
Nerissa: Your book sounds very different from mine since your book is a diary. At times I wish my book was a diary because it would give me more deeper glance into Carver's emotions. I'm sure the rhetorical devices in your book are much different. I've never read a diary type book. I probably should.
ReplyDeleteSarah Arnold: I once did a huge project on JFK and this really sparked my memory! I can vividly remember reading about the patrol boat. I hope you enjoy reading about his life as much as I did.
In the book I am reading, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the purpose of the book is to, as said in the words of Malcolm X, “I think my life story may help people to appreciate better how Mr.Muhammad salvages black people.” The book uses a lot of pathos at different parts of the book. It gets so strong that sometimes I find myself slamming the book down and taking a break. I go on a tirade for a while. Logos and ethos are used throughout the book too. I think that the rhetorical triangle for the book would look pretty equilateral.
ReplyDeleteOne of the virtues that Benjamin Franklin stated as one of the 13 is justice. He explained it by saying “Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.” Justice fails Malcolm X and his accomplices in court. Malcolm X and four others were robbing houses, but the court system didn’t care to much about that. They only cared about how two black men were involved with white girls. What really set them off was that they weren’t tramps or trash, they were upper-middle class whites. In the book it says, “Later, When I had learned the full truth about the white man, I reflected many times that the average burglary sentence for first offender, as we all were, was about two years. But we weren’t going to get the average- not for our crime.” He got seven years and the other guy who was black got basically 24 years. There was no justice in this case.
Sutlief
I know how you feel. Sometimes I wish I could jump into my book and slap some sense into a few of the people. Authors just have that power to make people want to jump in the book.
Mary M.
The purpose of your book is almost like mine because Malcolm X wanted his story told to put more faith in Mr.Muhammad. He starts off doing crime and then he find refuge in Mr.Muhammad.
In my book, "Down Came the Rain" by Brooke shields, she has some important rhetorical devices. One of the main ones that she continues to use throughout the book is parallelism. By using this she emphesises the great drama and feel for her position in postpartum depression. For example, she says when her first tried child died, "I feel like it shouldn't happen to me. I feel like this is my fault. I feel like something is wrong with me. I feel rather than own human." By using this she demonstrates more tone and connection with the audience in my opinion. Her purpose is also brought out by this in that even though she is famous, her life is still not all that it's cracked up to be. Nothing is ever perfect. I think that her purpose is clearly displayed in her situations and hard times throughout this book so far.
ReplyDeleteIn my book of choice, Travels with Charley, the author John Steinbeck’s purpose is simply to tell his story of traveling with his dog Charley across America in order to re-discover it. His purpose in writing the story can be understood through the following quote from the novel, “In America I live in New York… But New York is no more America than Paris is France… Thus I discovered that I did not know my own country…” In telling his story he also opens the reader’s eyes to the beauty America holds. Throughout the story Steinbeck continuously uses pathos to appeal to the reader’s emotions. Steinbeck appeals to emotion with vivid descriptions of beautiful scenery, making the reader wish he or she was there. He meets new people on his trip across America and the reader learns these people’s stories along with Steinbeck, making the reader feel boned with each person Steinbeck meets along the way. Overall, this story has proven to be both heart-touching and addicting, all because of Steinbeck’s use of rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteIn the book "On Writing" Stephen King's purpose is to share any insight he may have on the art of writing. He does this in anecdotes in which he gains bits of wisdom. In one such story he becomes a sports writing for his town newspaper. His editor John Gould looked the article over, then went to work with his red pen. The sample of the article provided is acceptable, but the wording is immature. Gould went through and removed phrases such as "well loved" when discussing the gymansium, or "known as 'Bullet Bob' for both his size and accuracy." King states that despite all of his college writing courses, he learned more from John Gould than anyone else. He taught him that there is no need for filler, just tell what happened; too much fluff gets in the way. This theme is commonly present in the book. In the foreward he explains that he will elliminate all the "B.S." that he can.
ReplyDeleteKelsey,
ReplyDeleteMy book is also written in first person and I love how closer you feel with the author just by his type of writing. However, I wish that my book was written into a journal format because I think going by day periods would be more authentic- in my opinion. Its intresting to find that your book is written like that.
Sutlief,
Oh I understand you completly! Sometimes I get so frustrated with characters that I just want to stop reading, but that makes me want to read on even more. I love how authors and books can do that and I think its amazing how wonderful the thought of that is. Thats really what makes reading so great.
In my book "Go for the Goal" by Mia Hamm, readers learn skills to play soccer. Hamm's purpose is to appeal to your inner soccer player. She gives you confidence boosters along the way to encourage progress. The inspirational quote at the heart of her autobiography is "many people say I'm the best women's soccer player in the world. I don't think so. And because of that, someday I just might be". Mixing anecdote and opinion, she insists that Kristine Lilly is the best player in the world. With lots of coaching and practical advice, Hamm breaks the game down into its skill components while talking up (not down) to her target readers. She occasionally throws in the saying "there is no me in mia" referring to "there is no I in team".
ReplyDeleteNerissa,
I agree that it's weird that a 6 year-old got to drive a car! How unfair! But I suppose under her circumstances it's appropriate considering she may never get the chance to drive :/
Maxwell,
It's so horrible to think about how slaves were treated back then! I'm not so sure I want to read it anymore... It sounds horrifying!
In the book "The Blind Side" The author's purpose is to prove the fact that with hard work and a little bit of luck anything is possible. Michael lewis mailny uses pathos in his book. He attempts to make the reader feel sadness, and also marvel in Michale Oher's resilience. He uses ethos in explaining how he knows the Family that brought Michale into their home. Doing that establishes credibility and first hand knowledge in his book. He uses many metaphors in this book, one that sticks out in my ind is, "He had never seen an offensive linemen who was such a force of nature taht he might control an entire football game, if used properly" the author uses other devices like similies, comparing Michael Oher to many different things that are connotatively big.
ReplyDeleteIn "Sybil" I believe the auther is writing about this rare case of multiple personalities to open new grounds in psychoanalysis, and the overal understanding of the unchartered field of multiple personalities,in that time. The auther is also trying to have the reader share the emotions of Sybil and her many personalities. One rhetorical device that help give the reader this emotional feel is "pathos". In one passage the auther is describing how Sybil is going through a break down, after Dr. Wilber, her psychiatrist, had told her about these many personalities she acquired; " One moment she was a ranting child, walking on the fruniture, leaving her fingerprints on the cealing. The next moment she was a self-possessed and knowing woman... Then Sybil was lying inert on the bed.". The auther also uses metaphors and logos to get at her purpose. So far the purpose of her writing has been shown by the rhetorical devices she chooses to use
ReplyDelete-Nerissa, your book sounds really good, almost like a movie! Do you think that if it were a fiction story you would be drawn to it as much as you are? Or does knowing that it's a true story make it more personal and interesting to read?
ReplyDelete-Jessica, after reading what your book is about I would want to do the same thing as you; jump in and knock sence into the parents! Too bad life isn't like Blue's Clues! Your book sounds so much different than mine in the fact that it makes you feel so fortunate for what you have. While I read my book I'm constantly wishing that I was rich enough to just drop what I'm doing and travel across America!
Mack, I loved that movie, is the book as heart renching as the movie? I know the books are always better than the movies, but that movie was amazing.
ReplyDeleteCT- kind of jsut an out there question, but what did Malcom X do exactly? Also are there any very vivid images that he has conveyed to you as youve read his biography?
ReplyDeleteLandis- Does Larry Bird come off as cocky or arrogant in this book? Or is it a sincere look-in on his off the court life?
Jordan, I think its a great observation for you to get from your book, that even if you're famous your life can be messed up. On the outside it seems looks like meadows of flowers, but who knows what could really be going on in their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn "Company Aytch", by Sam Watkins, the purpose, I believe, is well established by the common theme which simply put is: well... there is no clear theme. In fact, as I read further in this book, I am beginning to find that it is starting to turn into a string of pseudorandom short stories; the subjects of which range from someone being shot in the face to Watkins' first time eating watermelon. (Both of those things occured on the same page. That's how disorganized this book has become.) Thus I believe Watkins is simply using this book as an opportunity to vent about the war. I believe that the fact that he speaks very conversationally yet very specifically addresses the reader, in combination with the context of the reading, presents a mood indicative of a therapist's office in which Watkins is the patient and the reader is the reader is the therapist.
ReplyDeleteIf, however, one was to attempt to find and definitively establish an example of rhetoric that we have discussed in class in this book, then they might just drive themselves to the point of insanity in mid-search because there just is no really prevalent form of rhetoric in this book. On the other hand, if one is simply just looking for rhetorical devices, then they would find that the entire book is comprised of similes and anecdotes.
In the biography of "Abraham Lincoln", by Benjamin P. Thomas, Thomas' purpose is to accurately provide the ups AND downs (as well as his young social life) of Lincoln's life to the public eye. His courtship of Mary Todd and his failures make him seem human-whereas in history books Lincoln is almost always glorified as a saint.
ReplyDeleteA few basic rhetorical devices within this piece is the consistent use of logos (the book is all fact), and ethos (when Lincoln deals with the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation in particular).
In the biography of Jimi Hendrix, Room Full of Mirrors, the author's purpose is to show the story of the great musician. He gives insight into what it really took for Hendrix to follow and fulfill his dream as a musician. To account for some of the things he overcame the author uses pathos to get an idea of what his childhood was like from the start. An example of this was when he was a baby with just his mother a young girl accounted, "the baby was icy cold, his little legs were blue and his diaper was frozen solid with urine" just one of the many times parenting would be an issue. Something that made Jimi Hendrix famous, being able to play both right handed and left, was a result of his father thinking anything left handed was "from the devil." His brother recalls "He learned to play left and right because every time my dad came into the room, he'd have to flip it and play upside down or my dad would yell at him." The lack of support for him growing up proved to be unphased since he would still reach his goal.
ReplyDeleteJess: I think our books are very similar in how personal they get with the characters lives. Do you like this style of writing or would you prefer more information on the character?
ReplyDeleteKate S: Great insight into the book and the details make me interested in reading the book. What is your opinion so far?
The purpose for Annie Duke writing her book was to share her long journey towards becoming a professional poker player, and to give useful insight to her readers. Annie Duke definitely uses a lot of pathos, but logos and ethos do play a role in the book as well. Duke uses a lot of similes and metaphors. One example of a simile she uses is, "It looks like a small city sitting there on the felt (her chip stack). A glorious, colorful city of chips."
ReplyDeleteIn the book "Easy Company Soldier" malarky(narrator) tries to portray the himself as a hard working, low class, individual. He explains this by staing how he grew up on a farm in Oregon and how he always was doing extra jobs to help put dinner on the table each night.
ReplyDeleteThis book takes place during WW II, so as predicted Malarky joins the army and is assigned to be a paratrooper. He uses sensory details to describe the miserable environment he has to endure.
In the book "Sugar Ray Leonard", James Haskins(author) fulfills the purpose of rhetorical appeals through good and insightful anecdotes. This appeal allows James to tell you about a hardworking and determined boy trying to be one of the greatest at boxing. In addition, how boxing changed him as a person. " Boxing did a lot for Sugar Ray Leonard. It gave him a confidence he had never know before. It helped him develop his self- disiplin and gave him goals to work for.( Haskins, 29)
ReplyDeleteThe book "The Heroin Diaries" has a lot of hidden meaning and purpose behind it. At first, the purpose seemed to be exposing the secret life of a shattered rock star during his lowest point in addiction and his highest point in fame. But later on, the purpose became more clear: the book was not an excuse for Sixx (author) to rant about his dysfunctional child hood and to shock readers with his sick, insane habits, but to reflect on the journey that ultimately killed him and awoke him to reality. In other words, Sixx's goal is to provide readers with a sense of hope and understanding. He accomplishes this mostly be appealing to pathos and uses rhetorical questions, metaphors, and old lyrics - which are always full of figurative language - to acheive this purpose.
ReplyDeleteShelby DeMott: our authors seem similar in that they both had extremely troubled childhoods. I wonder how much this effected their styles of writing, they were probably similar.
Ashlei: your book sounds similar, too. Appeal to pathos seems to be a recurring theme in autobiographies.