In Class Lab: Literacy Narrative

1.) “Each time I arrived under the bells, I would recite the poem to myself, even when the weather was cold and my breath made the air foggy.” Pg.133 paragraph 2
2.) “But it’s Lydia’s story that stays with me most, probably because it represents the essence of hope and determination in the face of terrible adversity.” Pg. 131 paragraph 12
3.) “Her tongue became dry and her lips were cracked, but she only was aware of being terrified of the water.” Pg.130 paragraph 9

4.) -Reading as a way to learn new things (stuck in the house with limited resources.)                                - Unaware of the impact of learning to read (hooked on phonics, languages, etc.)

5.) The first item on the list shows how access to books and information allowed me to learn a lot about different subjects not easily answered at home. The second idea has to do with my grandmother making my brother and I do hooked on phonics and practicing to read and how later I discovered that not all people had the same level of literacy I developed as a result and how it helped me in ways I was unaware of.

6.) Some audiences may have similar experiences not specifically about learning to read but about education of a particular thing in general that they were not happy about, and how those things they learned had helped them in the long run and may have been something taken for granted. I’d have to explain about my dislike of hooked on phonics etc. and how I came to the awareness that it was something that did help in the long run.

7.) I’d like the audience to see me as sincere. In the narrative I would be attempting to communicate how sometimes things that may be underappreciated can come to be one of the most important parts of their lives.

8.) My narrative will be in print. A picture or two may help in showing how I or another involved may have felt.   The narrative takes place at home and at school. I remember how much I hated the 15 min. timer my grandmother had in which we had to sit and practice reading. I remember how I became aware of how little struggle or issues I had with reading and how I was able to pronounce strange seeming words correctly easier than most (of course some were not always spot on.)  

9.) There were red, orange, and brown carpets with yarn like noodle textures. The colorful tape player with a plastic red and yellow microphone. (it was not for play.)  In the classroom there were white walls with grayish blue and green carpet. Desks with blue chairs attached.

10.) I can still hear the lady on the recording repeating “A-E-I-O-U are vowels, A-E-I-O-U are vowels, and sometimes Y” before the beginning of every hooked on phonics recording.

11.) I can smell the air conditioned air blowing slightly faded perfume from my English teacher.

12.) I feel bored and annoyed (I’d rather go outside and play.) I felt appreciation when I realized how lucky I was to have a grandmother who wanted me to learn to read.

13.) I taste the snack I had in between classes.

14.) My Grandmother was a short frizzy haired lady with a nice smile and smelled often of roses. She worked out in the gardens a lot. She spoke very kindly but also efficiently. The student in my English class had short straight brown hair and was mildly husky. My English teacher was an average height, slender woman with blonde hair. I was small with curly hair and then later average sized with curly brown hair that had some blonde hair mixed in with the brown towards the front of my forehead.

15.)”I don’t want to do this, its boring.” “You just have to do 15 min.” I became aware of how all the extra reading my grandmother attempted to make me do had helped me a lot more than I had previously realized. I assumed most had a certain level of proficiency in reading and comprehension and that I was the average.

16.) In the beginning of being taught to read I was resistant to doing any extra stuff we didn’t learn in class. I had a grandmother who insisted I needed the extra help. Later on it wasn’t until I was in and English class my Junior year that I realized not everyone had the reading comprehension and ability that I had.

17.)  The significance of the story is very personal to me. It not only brings to mind memories of my grandmother who has since passed on, it also reminds me of the significance of appreciating the small moments we often have. Sometimes we may not see the significance of something right away, especially if we are resistant to it. In fact it was many years later, late into my teen years before I realized the significance of those small moments which I resisted so much as a child.

Redefining Rhetoric

After reading the different definitions of rhetoric I discovered that all had in common the theme of communication in their definitions. There was however a definition of rhetoric that brought my attention to rhetoric in relation to the language in which it was used. In giving explanation for my definition of rhetoric I failed to take into account the awareness of other cultural perceptions of things as well. In the definition of rhetoric I gave, I did speak generally about awareness of others thoughts about the subject. While that general definition can technically cover the aspect of cultural awareness in rhetoric, I myself did not think about rhetoric beyond communication in my own language.

Definition of Rhetoric

Rhetoric: effective communication of an idea or concept of a subject; arrived to by the communicator through careful study, thought and consideration of the subject.

       The first part of my definition for rhetoric “effective communication” makes point that in rhetoric one has to take into account whom they are communicating too. Effective communication can only take place when the writer or speaker etc. takes into consideration whom is being spoken too and how to approach or meet that person from their current place of understanding. Knowing where the audience is coming from allows the author to create a path of understanding starting with where the audience is to the point the author wishes to communicate. 

       The second part of the definition for rhetoric involves the process of arriving to the understanding of the subject in which the author communicates. In order to effectively communicate upon a subject one has to first be knowledgeable of the subject. This includes what is understood by others about the subject. The awareness of the diverse opinions and viewpoints of others about the subject allow a person who is thinking and acting rhetorically to have a number of options in tackling a particular subject. That awareness is mentioned in Everyone’s An Author as a part of the process of thinking and acting rhetorically. They summarize a number of steps for thinking and acting rhetorically. The first part “To Listen,” the second “Hear What Others Are Saying-and Think about Why,” the third “What Do You Think- and Why,” the fourth “Do Your Homework,” and the last part of the process “Put in Your Oar,” all call for the careful study, thought, and consideration listed in the definition. 

Class Discussions on Narratives

1,) The similarities of all our blog posts was that seem to all lie within the idea that the main point of Lydia's story was made apparent in the final paragraph/conclusion. We all agree that the story incorporated both first person point of view, and third person point of view as Lydia explained her account of the affects of "the two storms" Brideau made it come alive by using descriptive language of the situation. We agree that the audience was towards health professionals, and the tone suited the audience because she described her observations in a professional way.

2.) In regards to chapter 2, Brideau took into account her audience, who she was writing to, and her purpose for writing the story. The tone could be considered a first person narrative, and the genre is an essay published in a magazine. This was all discussed in chapter 2, as means for rhetorical situations, therefore relating. I.e. she took into account her audience in relation to her purpose which affected her tone thus influencing her to use Lydia's story in the context of the health care field.

3.) Some everyday narratives:

• Coming home from school with a pleasant surprise of a B on a math test you thought you bombed. 
• The car that suddenly tried to pass you as you began merging into the left lane. 
• The phone call that rudely interrupted the nap you took in celebration of your first class being over. 
• The customer you encountered at your job that was just significantly elated to share their own personal stories with you...or vent about the poor service...
• The recount of the quiz you actually didn't have to take. 

4.) Discussion summary: Throughout the day we unknowingly narrate personal stories about out own experiences that occur as or after it's happened. They may also include the purpose of why we did said activity. 

5.) I watched two videos: Tanner Williams on coming out in high school in a very conservative community, and Rosie O'Donnell on coming out, following many life details. 

6.) Discussion summary: Red Carpet Roxies had many people in the video interviewed to tell one narrative about how it gets better, and the "about us" page, was interesting recounting the story of how the project began. A video of Rosie O'Donnell was compelling, as it told about the many milestones she encountered in her life from her mother dying, to the many other influential people who entered her life later on. A video of a teacher was shown, who, while begin gay, the focus on the video was about helping other people, not about how she was helped. 

7.) Discussion summary "comparing narratives:" The intent of narratives is upon bringing awareness to the audience, or bringing them into the reality of a story you're telling. The media effects it in many ways. For example, each person has a different interpretation of writing, whereas in movies, some people may not be able to picture it as well as others, who may for example need the extra visual or audio help. In summary, the approach involves different rhetorical situations. 

List of Narrative heard or told in one day

There are numerous narratives told throughout the day i.e.:
1.)stories of what happened to someone at a grocery store.
2.) what someone watched on tv last night and how they are upset a character died.
3.) Something I accomplished.
4.) Something I remembered or accomplished.

Lydia's Story Questions 1-4 after the text.

1.) What is Brideau's main point, and where in the essay is it indicated ?
The point of the story was to show the conditions and experiences of those whom had been affected by the hurricanes and to make them more personal and real to the reader by telling of one particular story that stuck with her. This is indicated in the final paragraph of the text.
2.)What is the primary point of view from which Brideau narrates "Lydia's Story"? What impact does that point of view have on you as a reader ?
Lydia's story begins in the first person from Brideau's perspective and later in the third person when she explain's the events that Lydia had went through. This impacts the way I experience the story so that I am able to see it through Brideau's eyes and understand the reason she felt privileged to help those whom she was working with.
3.)How does Brideau make the narrative "come alive"? Make a list of words she uses to describe the setting and the characters. How do they appeal to the readers emotions?
Brideau makes the narrative "come alive" by using descriptive language. She uses words like dry, cracked, and cramped to describe Lydia's physical condition and situation. She also uses the word terrified to describe Lydia's feeling as the water came into her house. These descriptive words create a picture that allows the reader to experience in some way the conditions which Lydia went through and feel a part of it.
4.)This was first published in Health Affairs, a journal of health policy thought and research. Who would be the audience for this piece, and how does Brideau's tone suit those readers? Point to specific words and phrases that create that tone.
The audience for this piece would be the readers of Health Affairs, whom are most likely those whom influence and work in the formation of health policy and the study of its effects. Brideaus's tone suits the targeted audience by taking an observational approach as she states the conditions of the surrounding environment which she observed and those whom are involved. In example she writes " Entering the large VFW hall, we were struck by the chemical odor of a cleaning solution so strong that it seemed toxic. The hall had no windows; only fluorescent lighting illuminated the large space." This narrative approach gave the readers an better awareness of the situation in how these people were living and being taken care of in these wards.

Chapter 2 prompt

Within the last week I’ve written a reflection paper for an orientation class, a facebook status update, and completed math homework assignments involving word problems.  Each of these genres of writing all involved different rhetorical situations. For the reflection paper, the assignment required me to consider my thoughts, fears and expectations of going to college. The assignment asked me to write at least 300 words and to relate my college experience for the first week with strategies for tackling college discussed in the class. In this situation I had to communicate to the instructor where I had been, and how I came to where I am to give the reader an understanding of what my personal journey at the college had been like so far. This influenced the tone to be like a personal narrative and give insight into the way I had been thinking. The facebook status update was an open situation. The approach to a facebook status is less formal and structured. A facebook status lets your writing find its own audience amongst your friends or acquaintances. In this case the situation simply requires that I know what I want to speak about can present it in any way that seems fun to me. I can post a picture about something exciting I found, write a poem, or post a video. The audience in this case are the friends I have met. The tone is affected by this genre by causing it to be very casual and informal; such as a quick commentary or thought to a friend. In the case of the math homework my audience was the math instructor. I had to translate the word problems into the mathematical language and explain the logic of my response (answer) to the question using math formulas and strategies. This required me to write in a sequence of events and show a step by step approach to how I arrived to my conclusion. Later I was required to translate the answer I arrived to back into the context of the hypothetical situation presented. The different rhetorical situations influenced the way in which the writing was expressed and influenced its tone, medium of expression, and genre.