English Portfolio

Out of the papers you are putting into your English portfolio, which one do you think shows your best work and which one do you think needs to be edited the most? Explain why. Be specific. Provide examples of your best and weakest areas.

Then, when you comment on another person's blog post - address how they might fix their weakest areas.

At first the personal analysis essay was the paper that I dreaded and hated the most. I had absolutely no intention of keeping it in my portfolio until I revised it. It was then that I really started to feel invested in the paper, and I started to feel passionate about my own story and what I wanted to say. I think this essay is a really good example of my non-formal writing. I use a specific event in my life and elaborate in detail about it, making connections both to my famous person and American society. As far as formal/academic writing I think the research paper shows some of my best work. On the other hand it is also the paper I am most invested in, and the one that needs to be edited the most. My research paper still has a very long way to go with my own analysis and expansion of ideas, but I feel really comfortable with the historical context and sources I have used thus far. I really need to rethink the structure of this paper, and find a way to incorporate smooth transitions between new ideas that I introduce.

Krakauer's Credibility

In what ways were Krakauer's research and authoritative methods successful and unsuccessful in your opinion throughout his development of Into the Wild. Pick a couple examples from the text to back up your viewpoint.

I think that Krakauer did a beautiful job researching and writing the novel Into the Wild. In the beginning of the novel it is slightly obvious to the reader that Krakauer has a deeper connection to Chris, but this becomes more and more eminent as the book progresses. First, with the comparison to Krakauer's own experience Mountain climbing, second when Krakauer makes the journey to Stampede Trail to see where Chris spent his remaining time, and finally with the depth he goes to find what exactly killed Chris. All three of these narrative techniques reach out to the readers showing how others can relate to Chris and his situation. However, these techniques should also be noted for their ethos and the way they force the reader to feel. Krakauer bluntly states in the beginning of the novel that he wants the reader to make up their own mind about Chris, yet he has his own agenda for continually portraying Chris in "good" light. For me Krakauer was very successful with his authoritative methods. He showed a story and side of Chris which I deeply want to believe is true. This makes me both ignorant and biased because like Krakauer I want to believe that Chris's death was not his fault, and he would have been successful and proved his critics wrong. For other readers who were expecting to be given just the facts, and no in-between emotions, I could see how they would frown upon Krakauer's twisted research and think less of him.

Primary Source

I think that my primary source, The Wizard of Oz, visually shows the audience and the reader of my paper the stereotypes the characters represent. Through imagery and the emotions of the characters the viewer can see how the helpless and hopeful Dorothy compares to the American, and the how the brainless, foolish scarecrow represents the farmer. In my paper I addess this point of view through specific scenes in the movie, and also with an analysis of the music's lyrics. This is important because it lays the foundation for my papers argument and provides examples for my analysis. Readers should care about my topic because the movie the wizard of oz was a cultural phenomena in America. Everyone has at least heard the movie and it is even played yearly on TV. My paper shows a different side to this movie that most Americans are unaware of, and I believe would be intrigued to read.

The Wizard of Oz

I chose to write my research paper on the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. I chose this movie because it is something that everyone has watched at least once, and most are very familiar with the characters and sayings from it. However, what most don’t know is that The Wizard of Oz actually parallels to U.S history. The movie is based on a children’s fantasy book, which satirizes and stereotypes modern society. The movie compares the wicked witch to the American government, Dorothy to the naïve American people, the Scarecrow to the American farmer, and the Tin man to industrialization. In my paper I plan to show how these characters relate to individuals during the early 1900’s as well as today, and why these images and the story continues to be a part of American Culture. In America today I find it fascinating that we still have the stereotypes of this movie’s characters. Like Dorothy, Americans are always wishing for a better life. Farmers are still classified as ill-mannered and foolish like the scarecrow. While the modern man, or Tin man, is still battered by industrialists trying to make their fortune. I think the cultural issue I am addressing is how and why the American image and lifestyle has repeated itself over the last hundred years.

Assessing My Writing

In my close Analysis paper of Into the wild, I chose to make an analysis on three epigraphs that Chris highlighted in novels he brought on his journey. My purpose for choosing these epigraphs was to show the reader the literature Chris admired, and provide an explanation to why Chris decided to isolate himself and go into the wild. I think that my paper would be accessed as a middle. In my paper I first quoted the epigraph, then went on to explain what happened in the chapter, and how Krakauer set up his goal using the epigraph. I don't think I really addressed the meaning of the actual epigraph itself. In my paper I used several sources to explain the background of the authors of the epigraphs, and their connection to Chris. I think this is a strong quality in my paper. However, I think my paper could be stronger if I make sure to use the specific words from the epigraph and make a deeper analysis of their meaning. I also think I could make my paper stronger by making sure my points are clear, and I am not forcing the reader to read between the lines.

Krakauer and Chris

Here is the prompt for 101.35 - "In light of Krakauer's self-expression, do you find his recount of Chris' story more or less credible? Explain your answer."

I think that Krakauer's self expression in chapters Fourteen and Fifteen makes his recount of Chris's story more credible. Krakauer did not have to tell the reader his background as a young teen. He did not have to talk about his relationship with his father, or his unexplainable passion to climb and risk his live; yet he did. In these short chapters Krakauer managed not only to connect to the reader, but he made the reader connect to Chris. Through his own story, Krakauer gives the reader an explanation of why Chris went into the wild, putting to rest some of the readers many questions and doubts. I think this explains to the reader why Krakauer felt so deeply rooted in this story, and why he continued to find more answers. I think that when someone finds a perspective of passion to incorporate into what they are saying, or a way to relate to the topic at hand, it will give them credibility with the reader. However, on the other hand it should be noted that Krakauer is clearly biased. He shared a connection with Chris which he obviously uses to make his argument.

Taylor Swift

After reading the article on Taylor Swift last week I feel that my opinion of her and her music has not changed. I really like Taylor Swift both as a person and as an artist. I know that her music is simple, sweet, and "tired", but that's what I like about it. Anyone who thinks they could do better than Taylor is just kidding themselves. Taylor was not handed a music career on a silver platter. Sure, she came from a wealthy family that supported her, but she worked very hard to get to where she is today. She made something out of herself just like we all are trying to do.
I like Taylor's music because it reminds me of old times back in high school, and about all of the fun and innocent times I had with my friends. I like remembering these things, and thus I like Taylor's music. When music creates memories or triggers emotion in a person, it doesn't matter who the artist is or the level of aristry of the musician. Music is about passion and allowing yourself to connect with others through a common emotion. I think Taylor, Lady Gaga and Beyonce equally do this well.
As far as the charts I think they definitely added to the argument of the author. It was a very clever strategy to incorporate imagery to support the point of view. It made it almost impossible for the reader to overlook. The charts definitely got my attention, and I can honestly say when I heard a Taylor Swift song after seeing the chart I did start counting the Trucks and the Tears...