After reading Laura Kipnis’s essay Against Love, I felt that I have to say something about it. She suggested that love is just something the society made up to benefits from. People have been brainwashed into believing that these long-term relationships are natural. It is true that the society benefits from people bonded together as communities, no matter large or small, but one cannot simply argue that “love” is something being invented to do a job. Love is not a worker; love is a God-given gift. It is so wrong to examine the factor and motivation of love in a scientific or academic way. In her essay, the author list out the daily-life materials that make love possible. It is not important what was on the list, because making a list about something metaphysical was wrong from the base. Laura also said in her essay “If you love me, you’ll do what I want – or need, or demand – and I’ll love you in return.” Love is not a deal. You do not talk about what you can offer and what you should get before going into a relationship. As we all know, love is something that is meant to be; it is a feeling to give, to give unconditionally.
The author’s tone in this essay was sarcastic and indifferent. However, this is obviously not a suitable tone to discuss the word “love”. In her argument, she compared sex between the couples as “assembly-line works”. This is just a blasphemy to marriage and love. In her eyes, human beings are like heartless or even ruthless animals. She thinks marriage is not a destination of love, but an excuse of more “physical entertainment”. All I can say is that she failed to understand the power of love and the extraordinary qualities of human. Love is a powerful thing; it is a special gift we are born with. With love, you cannot only pain, but also grow hope and more love to nourish the world.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Reading Packet Notes
Arrangement - the organization of a piece
I. The Classical Model:
1> Introduction (ethos)
Introduce the reader to the subject under discussion
Draw attentions
2> Narration (logos, often appeals to pathos)
Provides factual info & background materials
Address the importance of the topic & why they do this
3> Confirmation (logos)
Major part of the text, including development or proof
Most specific & concrete detail in the text
4> Refutation (logos)
Bride the proof & conclusion
Analysis
5> Conclusion (appeals to pathos & reminds the reader of the ethos before)
Brings the essay to a satisfying close
Brings all the writer’s ideas together & answers the question
II. Patterns of Development:
1> Narration
Refers to tell a story or recount a series of events
Based on personal experience or knowledge gained from reading & observation
Writers often use this as a way to enter into their topics
2> Description
Closely allied with narration because both include many specific details
Emphasize the senses by painting a picture
Often used to establish a mood or atmosphere
3> Process Analysis
Explains how sth works, how to do sth, or how sth was done
Explain a subject clearly & logically, step by step
4> Exemplification
Providing a series of examples & turns a general idea into a concrete one
This makes your argument both clearer & more persuasive to a reader
Induction: a series of specific examples leads to a general conclusion
5> Comparison & Contrast
A common pattern of development
Subject-by-subject or point by point
6> Classification & Division
Sort material or ideas into major categories
Find a distinctive way of breaking down a larger idea or concept into parts
7> Definition
Often the first step in a debate or disagreement
The purpose of an entire essay is to establish a definition
8> Cause & Effect
The effects that result from a cause is a powerful foundation for argument
It’s important to carefully trace a chain of cause & effect & to recognize possible contributing causes
I. The Classical Model:
1> Introduction (ethos)
Introduce the reader to the subject under discussion
Draw attentions
2> Narration (logos, often appeals to pathos)
Provides factual info & background materials
Address the importance of the topic & why they do this
3> Confirmation (logos)
Major part of the text, including development or proof
Most specific & concrete detail in the text
4> Refutation (logos)
Bride the proof & conclusion
Analysis
5> Conclusion (appeals to pathos & reminds the reader of the ethos before)
Brings the essay to a satisfying close
Brings all the writer’s ideas together & answers the question
II. Patterns of Development:
1> Narration
Refers to tell a story or recount a series of events
Based on personal experience or knowledge gained from reading & observation
Writers often use this as a way to enter into their topics
2> Description
Closely allied with narration because both include many specific details
Emphasize the senses by painting a picture
Often used to establish a mood or atmosphere
3> Process Analysis
Explains how sth works, how to do sth, or how sth was done
Explain a subject clearly & logically, step by step
4> Exemplification
Providing a series of examples & turns a general idea into a concrete one
This makes your argument both clearer & more persuasive to a reader
Induction: a series of specific examples leads to a general conclusion
5> Comparison & Contrast
A common pattern of development
Subject-by-subject or point by point
6> Classification & Division
Sort material or ideas into major categories
Find a distinctive way of breaking down a larger idea or concept into parts
7> Definition
Often the first step in a debate or disagreement
The purpose of an entire essay is to establish a definition
8> Cause & Effect
The effects that result from a cause is a powerful foundation for argument
It’s important to carefully trace a chain of cause & effect & to recognize possible contributing causes
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Appeals from Darcy's Proposal
Ethos:
1> "These bitter accusations might have been supressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by reflection, by everything."
2> "Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?"
Logos:
1> “You've said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness."
2> "I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed."
Pathos:
1> "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
1> "These bitter accusations might have been supressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by reflection, by everything."
2> "Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?"
Logos:
1> “You've said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness."
2> "I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed."
Pathos:
1> "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Examples of Ethos, Logos, & Pathos
Ethos:
If Barack Obama gives a speech on the Democratic National Convention, he would talk about enhancing the economy, anti-war, and how John McCain is old and pedantic. This is because Obama's followers, the Democrats , are young people who think the economy is weak and the war in Iraq is wrong. They share a common concern, so it would be smart if Obama point this out to win the voters' hearts. (he actually did it~)
Logos:
If John McCain gives a speech on the Republic National Convention, he would say that Obama is a young radical with no experience. McCain would show he is experienced by telling people he was the one who fought in the Viet War. He would also point out that he would like to have young people working for him to serve the nation's new generation. That's why he chose Sarah Palin to run the campaign with him.
Pathos:
When Sarah Palin was doing her speech, she kept talking about how family was important to her and how being a mother of five made her happy. In this way, she could earn the supports not only from all the mothers, but also from people value the importance of family. She gave us an impression of a loving mother, so people might begin to believe she will be a loving mother-like vise president in the future. It really works for her!
If Barack Obama gives a speech on the Democratic National Convention, he would talk about enhancing the economy, anti-war, and how John McCain is old and pedantic. This is because Obama's followers, the Democrats , are young people who think the economy is weak and the war in Iraq is wrong. They share a common concern, so it would be smart if Obama point this out to win the voters' hearts. (he actually did it~)
Logos:
If John McCain gives a speech on the Republic National Convention, he would say that Obama is a young radical with no experience. McCain would show he is experienced by telling people he was the one who fought in the Viet War. He would also point out that he would like to have young people working for him to serve the nation's new generation. That's why he chose Sarah Palin to run the campaign with him.
Pathos:
When Sarah Palin was doing her speech, she kept talking about how family was important to her and how being a mother of five made her happy. In this way, she could earn the supports not only from all the mothers, but also from people value the importance of family. She gave us an impression of a loving mother, so people might begin to believe she will be a loving mother-like vise president in the future. It really works for her!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Fast Food Nation vs. The Great Gatsby
Fast Food Nation is a book about how and why the fast food industries affect our daily lives and the whole society; the Great Gatsby is one of the great love stories of our time. There are some obvious differences between these two books. First, Fast Food Nation is a non-fiction that analyzed how the fast food industry flourished, occupied, and injected into our nation; the Great Gatsby is a novel of a tragic love story took placed in the 1920s. Second, the author of FFN used facts to demonstrate his observations and thoughts. The language he used was precise and factual. However, Mr. Fitzgerald made a romantic love story instead of stating the facts. He used aesthetic and illusive words in order to show the feelings and thoughts of those characters.
Most people think that these two books have nothing in common; I don’t think so. Each of the books is a reflection of the society at that time. We can see those imprints of that time period. For example, in the Great Gatsby, the characters got involved in WWI, illegal liquor dealing, and the lavish lives of West Egg’s elite. It is obvious that the author himself tended to admire those fancy ways of living, which reflects to the American’s money-worship age. As for the FFN, it is clear that the word “fast food” is a tag of our time. The issues about immigration, food safety, and obesity are all under the spotlights. Although the genres of these books are totally different, from some points, these two authors shared the same writhing style. Both of them used to describe the atmosphere to help expressing the feelings and emotions they want the readers to have. Foreshadowing and ironies are also in their favor. At last, they wrote their books for the same reason--- to promote changes in this sick and weak society. They tell us the tragedy, what ever it is how horrible the working condition in the slaughterhouse is or how money changed and destroys people’s life, and they let us think about it, remind us don’t make the same mistake. They uncovered the dark side of our society, hoping us to turn on the light and make this world a better place.
Most people think that these two books have nothing in common; I don’t think so. Each of the books is a reflection of the society at that time. We can see those imprints of that time period. For example, in the Great Gatsby, the characters got involved in WWI, illegal liquor dealing, and the lavish lives of West Egg’s elite. It is obvious that the author himself tended to admire those fancy ways of living, which reflects to the American’s money-worship age. As for the FFN, it is clear that the word “fast food” is a tag of our time. The issues about immigration, food safety, and obesity are all under the spotlights. Although the genres of these books are totally different, from some points, these two authors shared the same writhing style. Both of them used to describe the atmosphere to help expressing the feelings and emotions they want the readers to have. Foreshadowing and ironies are also in their favor. At last, they wrote their books for the same reason--- to promote changes in this sick and weak society. They tell us the tragedy, what ever it is how horrible the working condition in the slaughterhouse is or how money changed and destroys people’s life, and they let us think about it, remind us don’t make the same mistake. They uncovered the dark side of our society, hoping us to turn on the light and make this world a better place.
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