Analytical Snapshot Blog #6

The reading assigned for this post ("Veils of Fear"-Stanley Kurtz) was a (Genre) persuasive essay formatted (purpose) to persuade or argue against the remarks made about the veil used in Muslim culture being a “jail cell”. In fact, Kurtz argues that it is “key” to the Muslim’s way of life. His Central Message was that the veil is not the nightmare American Feminists make it out to be. His paper was well written and provided plenty of background information on the use of the burka and the historical consequences of abolishing/requiring use of it.

Several of his own more personal views come out on paper. (Assumptions/world views) He assumes (and to clarify, I agree with him) that woman rights are important in a society. And that the war in the Middle East goes deeper than fighting terrorism. He also displays a slight opposition to the traditional feminist views, or at least to the extremes that are displayed in today’s popular literature.

He used the fact (tools of Evidence) that in most areas the burka (or veil) is never actually enforced upon anyone, and women use it and wear it willingly, almost proudly. Its purpose is to protect the ones they love, not to segregate themselves.

Post-Personal Narrative

I think my personal narrative went well. I definitely could have used more time though. I totally agree with the quote on how “good writing is never done its just due”. I was looking at my paper before I handed it in and there were some spots that I wish I had more time to sand down a little bit better. I’m glad we had this assignment though (and I never say that about assignments… ever). And the reason is that I really feel like I started to enjoy writing for once. I like telling stories orally but this was the first time that I have done it on paper and have edited to the extent that I did.

It was such a neat experience to see my voice come through on paper and watch the rough edges of the story get rubbed away. I feel like it could have been polished a lot more. I think this will be one of those papers I’m glad I did, but I will look back on it in a few years and be surprised how far I have come (meaning the paper really wasn’t that great but I felt like it was at the time).

The hardest part I had with this paper were a few paragraphs that no matter how I changed them they just sounded awkward. The coolest part of this paper though, was to have people peer edit my writing and see it become ten times better every time. I almost wanted everyone to edit my paper because it helped it so much.

Maybe one day I will try to write a short novel like Sister Elliot. But I definitely have a lot more learning to do before then.

Personal Narrative? What Personal Narrative?

Well not going to lie, the personal narrative has me a little bit freaked out. Im one of those people who tell stories all the time but when it comes to writing a paper about one im lost… not good. So yea this is going to be interesting. But I definitely can handle a rough draft especially cause class was cancelled tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong. Class is great and everything but I could really use that hour to get ahead in my classes. So yea, I think Im going to write about an experience that I had as a little kid, so the dialogue is going to be difficult cause I can’t remember a whole lot about it. But in case anyone was wondering my title for the personal narrative is “Earning my Crescent Moon”.

It’s basically a short story about one of the worst babysitting experiences I have ever had. (I being the one babysat, so go figure). Hopefully I can add enough details to make it interesting, maybe a little humorous. But overall I hope people get the same thing out of my experience through writing as I did living it.

I think Im going to start just with an outline, somehow that seems to work the best. This whole vomiting on paper doesn’t work with me. There aren’t a whole lot of “creative juices” that flow through my veins. (I mean, if you look at my family we are all engineers, not English majors…) And as far as letting the madman out…. I guess I can do that… but it’s practically impossible to get him back into his cage so the janitor can clean up. So we’ll see how this goes…

Apathetic Unambitious Slobs

The narrative I think I would like to comment on is “Mother’s Choice” by Anna Quindlen. I thought it was really well written. One of the things I enjoyed most about this piece is the way she is able to contrast being a mom with being a business woman so well. The way she describes being a mom as being messy unorganized and chaotic was impressive and then putting that into contrast with a business woman who spends her nights alone eating take out Chinese from a cardboard box.

However, I feel like there a few points I disagree on with her perspective about being a mom and her feminist ideals as well. Maybe it’s because I’m a man but I didn’t particularly enjoy her statement of “lots of women realize work is great and work is money and work is ego enhancing. But, at a certain point, it’s simply work – no more, no less. They realize that when men are still developing strategies for their careers, along with clogged arteries.” I felt that was a little uncalled for… I get that she is a feminist and there is a big push for women to get out of the house and be more involved in business, but I think she fails to see two major points: first, women’s MAIN role is to be a mom. Guys can’t do it, and so if the women won’t, there’s a problem. Second, guys work plenty hard to provide for their families. I feel like this statement is just straight up derogatory. The image that she creates with statements like these are of fat, unambitious, apathetic slobs… not fair to guys at all. Definitely not a fan of these feminist types.

Blog Post #1 Personal Narrative Response

I thought the readings (personal narratives) for this last assignment where really well written and organized. I particularly enjoyed the narrative “Love Story Fades to Black”, by Michael Potter.  I love how his writing almost makes it seem like time is slowing down in those awkward moments. However, I found it quite disturbing that he was so eager to be in a relationship, especially with a girl he knew previously, right after his mission. It seems like the norm for missionaries to come home and be eager to get married and at first be awkward, but this situation seems a little too forward. It makes me wonder where his thoughts were directed on his mission. Did he constantly have her in mind while he was gone? It almost seems like he was expecting to swoop her off her feet and carry her into the sunset. Even I, a “pre-mi”, understand that that’s not how life works out. Only when you’re a general authority, or something, do you marry your high school sweetheart. I don’t know, maybe I’m so critical cause as a guy I know what it’s like to get shut down and forgotten by a girl, and so when I see another guy making that mistake it’s frustrating.

                Either way, I have to give the guy props. His writing sucked me right in. Maybe it was the whole archetype of girl drama that appealed to me, but I would like to think not. I really think that he did a great job, in slowing the story down enough to understand his thoughts and to really become attached to his character.

Me in 100 Words

I dislike stress, headaches, bad food, empty refrigerators, awkward moments on dates, bad referees, long meetings, and pointless class time. I love sunsets in the mountains, stars, summer, the temple, and my family. I appreciate hard work, early Saturday mornings, good books, wholesome movies, and obedient residents. I enjoy calm Sunday afternoons, quiet conversations, dessert, longboarding, dancing. I can’t live without peanut butter, tuna fish, and sushi.  I have blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. My name is Isaac Bunker, I am the second oldest of fourteen kids, I am eighteen years old and this is me in 100 words.