Jess’ Blog

For my blog today, I decided to analyze the structure of the newspaper. What does an author need in his or her article to make it stand out and draw in the reader? There is so much to read in the newspaper and rather than reading through every word, many people pick and choose which articles to read. One of the most important things is the headline. It is one of the first things the reader notices and can either deter a reader or capture their interest. Marc Lacey’s article in The New York Times, for example, was titled “Hospitals Now a Theater in Mexico’s Drug War.” This headline caught my attention for several reasons. First of all, it gave me a good idea about what the article was going to be about - the current drug war happening in Mexico. The thing that really made me want to read it was the curiosity that arose as I wondered how the take on hospitals acting as a theater would be explained. After reading the article through, the play on words became clear to me and I was impressed with the headline that the author had chosen. 

I finally finished Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, and was very impressed with the ending. One of the most important things for an author to do at the end of their book is to keep the reader wanting more and Meyer definitely accomplished that goal. Lucky for me, Meyer included the first chapter of her sequel at the back of her first book. It was, literally, the last sentence she wrote that forced me to want to know more. Of course, the only way to find out would’ve been to begin reading her second novel, which in turn, has me hooked to buy the book and read the entire thing. Her finishing was exciting and very strategic. I’m sure that I am not the only reader who was sucked into the second book by her question-begging ending. 

“Letter From Birmingham Jail”

By: Martin Luther King Jr.

            This letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. during his time spent in Birmingham jail was a very interesting read. Through the analysis of his writing, I found some things that I liked; yet some things I did not. One aspect that impressed me was how King did a fantastic job in connecting with me- the reader. Instead of just stating a point, he would back it up with real life examples. I’m not talking about one or two instances; more like 13 different situations. This technique was very effective. It really made sure that the idea King wanted to illustrate was drilled into my head so that I could truly understand where he was coming from. However, something I didn’t like was the organization of his letter. After reading it, I felt like it would have been stronger had it been organized in a different manner. Perhaps it was a little sloppy in organization because it was a letter and he was writing what came to mind at the time. Even so, the placement of certain topics seemed a little out of flow, which made the writings of the letter a little more difficult to follow. 

Today, the unique code of country music draws in a culture made up of the “common men” in America. The social origins of this country culture can be traced far back into history. In the mid-20th century, a form of literature, called southern folklore, expressed how important the lower and middle class of white southerners was. This literature was widespread and it formed a social category comprised of a large white middle class. As country music developed, this previously formed social class was a perfect target for this genre of music in that this class would be able to relate to the sounds and signs of the country music code. 

Computers Cannot Think

By: John Searle

            Writings of philosophers are usually very difficult for me to understand because the language in which they write is unfamiliar to me. When I read a philosophical piece by Searle and understood it, I decided to analyze what it was about the way it was written that allowed me to comprehend the message being portrayed. I think it was the descriptive example that Searle used to back up the main point of his argument that helped my understanding. For me, I find it beneficial as a writer to make a point, provide an example and then analyze that example and explain how it relates to my main argument. Searle took this approach in his writing against artificial intelligence and it allowed me to comprehend his complicated thoughts. 

 Stephenie Meyer’s book Twilight has still got me hooked. It’s all I’ve been able to read lately so I am going to analyze some new things I’ve noticed about her writing that intrigues me so much. One thing is how vivid her writing is. Her description is deep, yet concise. This allows me to really focus in and picture what is happening without having to read long, wordy, and boring descriptive passages. Also, although Stephenie Meyer is a fantasy writer, she has a strong ability to connect with me, an average teenage girl. She really grabs my attention, restricting me from putting this book down. I’m almost finished with it now and can’t wait to find out how it ends!

U.S. Relations With The Dominican Republic: What Students Didn’t Learn

An Essay by Kristin Arvanitis

   Overall I thought this essay was written pretty well. One negative thing I noticed about the way this essay was written is the lack of flow. The introduction and conclusion tied together in that they both expressed the same topic. However, the body paragraphs included little or no connection to the overall point of the essay. The writer was very strong in providing support for her points, which made me feel that the essay was reliable and professional. Another thing the author did well was combine quotes, examples, and other proof with her own opinions about the topic. The conclusion closed the paper nicely by giving a point to why this paper was written and what I, as a reader, must do with this information. Her conclusion serves as a good example and is something that I, as a writer, can learn from.  

Twilight

By: Stephenie Meyer

            Twilight is a New York Times bestseller that I just picked up a couple of days ago and I have not been able to put it down. It’s hard for me to find a book that has this affect so I analyzed what it was about this book, this author, and this style of writing that kept me so intrigued. One thing I noticed is that the way in which Meyer structures her work is very question begging. Provoking many questions but not necessarily answering them leaves the reader anxious, urging him/her to keep reading so that the answers will be discovered. Another thing I liked about Meyer’s writing style is her combination of dialogue and descriptive writing. It seems to hold the perfect balance between the two making each exciting and enjoyable to read. Overall, Meyer’s writing style is one that appeals greatly to me and I can’t wait to continue reading her books. 

Shoe EnvyBy: Lyndsay Young  As I read through this piece, analyzing it deeply, I found much that I did not like about her writing style. The sentences, for one, were very short and choppy; making me feel like I was in elementary school again. Also, her use of vocabulary was not very intellectual either. One thing I did like was the point she was trying to make in her critique of sex appeal in advertisements. However, I didn’t feel as though she supported her argument as well as she could have. Her method was to describe a single ad, which contained sexual appeal, and use that to support her critique; but she didn’t carry out this method well. Most of her writing was actual descriptions of the ad itself rather than an analysis of how certain aspects of the ad tied into her point about sex appeal in advertisements. Overall, I was not too impressed with Lyndsay’s work and writing style.  

Harry Potter and The Goblet of FireBy: J.K. Rowling

  A book that I have thoroughly enjoyed so far has, unfortunately, ran into a boring state. Usually, J.K. Rowling provides a smooth easy read allowing me to fall into the story. However, the chapter I just read was quite bothersome to get through. The writer seemed to be shoving too much information at me at once, and when I needed a break from intense details, there was no relief. I think that Rowling should’ve attempted to mix these descriptions amongst a scene of action or dialogue. Since this story is mainly geared towards younger readers, I think they would be even more aggravated about the boring nature than I am.