Persuasive Point

Recently, I talked with a friend named Katie about the importance of wearing a seatbelt as we were driving around town. She did not accept the advice at the time and appeared to not be listening. I told her about a childhood friend I had who died as a result of not wearing a seatbelt. He asked a buddy to drive him home one night. The buddy had a brand new car and was speeding down the road when a deer jumped in front of the car. The driver swerved to miss the animal and hit a tree. My friend was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected through the windshield. He passed at the scene of the accident at the age of fifteen. I also pointed out to Katie the importance of setting an example for her children.

Last week, Katie was driving her kids to school. She hit a pothole and the driver door swung wide open. I was so happy to hear that she had taken my advice that day and put on the seatbelt. She said she did it that morning because she remembered our conversation. Katie could have suffered serious injuries. I couldn't help but think someone bigger than me had a part in this. She said she will wear a seatbelt every time she drives now.

Style

The reminders in the approach to style chapter of The Elements of Style are not rules, they are simply the opinion of a writer. There are good and bad points present in anyone's opinion. It is also a rather broad description of the way one should write. There are many different kinds of writing-research, persuasive, technical, creative, etc. where these reminders would not be relevant.
For example, reminder number 17 to not inject one's opinion (p.70) is ill-advised for a writer who has an editorial column in the newspaper or for someone who is writing a persuasive piece. Someone who is writing poetry might find it difficult to do so when they are not supposed to use fancy words (p.76).
There are good points as well. Writing in a way that comes naturally (p.70) is something every writer should strive for. Each has his own unique style. If the work an author has crafted is awkward to him, it will be unusual to the reader. Making sure the reader knows who is speaking (p.76) is also a valid reminder. Confusion in a story is never welcome.
I have the most trouble accepting reminders such as avoid using fancy words (p.76) and prefer the standard to the offbeat. Writing is an art. It is a masterpiece woven from one's heart. "Fancy words" add to the beauty. Not many people view a plain piece of art with little color and detail as stunning and breathtaking. A piece of literature, whether it is a book or an essay, should provoke some sense of awe in a reader. A less standard way of writing pushes the envelope for a deeper level of reading pleasure. After all, society has not grown from people who think everything should stay the same. Just as technology and industry have been developed, writing should also flourish and sprout new buds. What would this author who wrote these reminders have said to Mark Twain in his era? Would he have said you cannot write that way because it just doesn't follow the standards? I say offbeat is the way to go!

Muddiest Point #2

The muddiest point in the narrative essay is figuring out the structure to use. How many paragraphs in the body are too little? How much is too much? Since a story is being told, I am not sure if a narrative essay has a more structured skeleton than introduction, body, and conclusion. I believe I wrote six paragraphs in the body of the essay.

Examples

Amy Tan's approach to language as written in "Mother Tongue" is that language should be based on the way her mother's speech is structured-her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech, and the nature of her thoughts. Tan speaks about how others view her mother's English as "broken." In Tan's eyes, her mother's language is beautiful because it presents all the main points of an idea. It is the language she has grown up with. Although Tan was embarrassed of her mother's speech as a child, she blossomed in realizing that language should not be focused on the proper mechanics and rules. She denounces the critics and proclaims that her mother praised Tan's book as easy to read. That is how Tan bases her writing success.
In "Me Talk Pretty One Day," David Sedaris is in a reverse role as the person who is speaking the "broken" language. He is humorous as he writes about an instructor in France who is very critical of his not-so-fluent French speaking skills. He struggles to study hard and please her with his growing knowledge. He speaks of hiding himself from people because he does not feel he is communicating well enough in the French language. He becomes proud as the instructor criticizes him and he understands every word she is saying. Sedaris writes, "Understanding doesn't mean that you can suddenly speak the language. Far from it. It's a small step, nothing more, yet its rewards are intoxicating and deceptive" (p.290).
I think that the way an author develops thoughts come from their life experiences and their personalities. Tan and Sedaris were on different sides of the coin with their language experiences. Sedaris uses humor to convey his message. Tan writes more modestly as she defends her mother's honor and way of speech.

Research

My narrative is based on an experience I had when I was fifteen years old. I traveled to a Navajo reservation in Utah with my family in order to help a church with their vacation bible school. I remember the sizzling heat of the summer, the wonderful people, and the adventures I encountered. I was unsure at first of how to relate to the Navajo because it was a new culture and I did not know their ways. I wondered if they would even welcome my presence there. I soon became comfortable around the Navajo. Their customs were amazing and I looked forward to learning more. I realized that the Navajo people had taught me that it is alright for someone to live differently than another because we can all appreciate the beauty in culture.

Mechanics

I would have to say that in regards to the mechanics of writing, I tend to place emphatic words at the beginning of a sentence instead of at the end. I was under the impression that the main thought is at the beginning of the sentence in order to emphasize a point and to catch a reader's attention. According to page 32 of The Elements of Style, "The proper place in the sentence for the word or group of words that the writer desires to make most prominent is usually the end." I am sure I made many mistakes on the last paper with breaking this rule, but I will try to be more aware of this for the narrative essay!