Response chapter 8

I extremely enjoyed this essay written by Simon Benlow. I had to read it a few times to really appreciate the point he was trying to make. And the more I read it the more I agreed with his view of the Simpsons. He first states that sitcoms consist of "cliche moralism, empty characters and adolescent dialogue." The Simpsons however takes a different approach compared to the mainstream sitcom. The Simpsons makes fun at almost everything that our American society embraces. The Simpsons is unique because it shows a family that is quite oblivious to the obvious atrocities that are going on in the government, schools and communities. However in Benlows mind the Simpsons goes much deeper. What it is, is an accurate depiction of the American people. Benlow says that we as Americans have been so programed to not question the atrocities that surround us that we ignore them just as The Simpsons portrays. Benlow also says that many may say that The Simpsons may not have any significant meaning. But he points out that in our society, TV has replaced books, history and philosophy, in where society receives its standards and morals. He says that The Simpsons is significant when it can poke fun at its own means of influence. I think that Benlow picks up on many important points The Simpsons brings out. It shows where our culture is at and it makes fun of the obvious absurdities that surround us.

Response chapter 7

Causey's essay, "Is Hunting Ethical" addresses some interesting points that are quite popular in our society. First of all the opening to her essay was specifically chosen to affect the emotions of the readers. She began by describing the slow death of a baby fawn in which her and her husband were trying to save. She uses extremely descriptive words to show the reader the tragedy of the fawns death. The next picture she paints for her readers is her preparing a roast for dinner. The only thing she can think of is the death of the baby fawn and that she and her husband are about to eat something that was once alive. I think that her opening is very inappropriate in comparison to the rest of her eassy. She triggers the readers emotions to be very sympathetic to her opinions about hunting, even though eating a piece of meat should not make anyone wonder if hunting is ethical or not. She even goes on to say that she is not against hunting, but the scientific, calculating mindset of hunters. She questions weather hunters should display their catch as if it were a prize, she believes this takes away some of the sacredness of life. She believes that people need to learn how to think ethically and act ethically. Then, she claims, there will be a difference in how people view hunting. In responding to Causey's essay, I think she makes some valid points especially when she uses the example of the brutal hunting video. She said that the video consisted of animals being graphically killed and some wounded but still alive. Now, I will agree with Causey that this is a disrespect for life and it causes others to not value it. I however see nothing wrong with hunting nor viewing it as a sport. It is part of mans instinct to conquer, hunting is one of the ways man can exercise this. Animals were given to man to be taken care. We must not abuse this responsibility. And since animals are not on the same level as man they should not be treated as their equal. However they are a representation of life and all life should not be thrown away lightly.

Response chapter 4

I really enjoyed Pico Iyers essay, "In praise of the Humble Comma." he introduced a very colorful dimension of the importance of a comma. He uses very descriptive images to communicate the point to his readers. For instance he compares punctuation to road signs, he says they are "placed along the highway of our communication." Iyer says that the period is like a red light, telling us to stop with finality. And the semicolon is like the stop sign telling us to stop and then ease into starting again gradually. A comma, however, allows us to pass through only requiring that we slow down. Iyer then explains that punctuation is important in how we express ourselves. He again uses excellent comparisons by comparing punctuation to the " way one bats ones eyes, lowers ones voice or blushes demurely." It is the pause that seems so insignificant if taken out of the picture but very important when added into it. A comma can make all the difference in the world. I especially like Iyers comment, " Thus all the tiny scratches give us breadth and heft and depth. A world that has only periods is a world without inflections. It is a world without shade. It has a music without sharps and flats... A comma, by comparison, catches the gentle drift of the mind in thought, turning in on itself and back on itself, reversing redoubling and returning along the course of its own sweet river of music.." Iyers essay causes his readers to consider the importance punctuation plays in our lives.

Response to why a great books education is the most practical

In his essay, Crabtree addresses a different approach to education that is not commonly thought of in our day. He talks about about how a great books education has benefits that our current college education does not offer. Crabtree explains that the modern view of education is to prepare a student in his specialized profession as soon as possible so they can enter directly into that field. He explains how a great books education prepares a person for any variety of work it helps them to critically think so they can be ready for any occupation that comes there way. Crabtree says that in today's work force that if certain jobs were eliminated that college students who are specially trained would find it difficult to find another line of work because the popular form of college education gives specific training. As an example he uses the field of medicine. He says that the field of medicine is rapidly advancing and growing that soon certain jobs will be eliminated. So it is with computer jobs. Crabtree said that in today's job force that employers are not hiring any one over the age of thirty five because of the the rate computer knowledge is changing so quickly that they need employees that have the most recent training. Crabtree's solution to this is to have a students undergraduate years consist of a broad education that allows them to think well, communicate clearly verbally and through writing. If they have these skills Crabtree maintains that they will have ample training so that they will be suited for most work environments. He thinks that a great books education is more sensible and economical. It saves money in term of college education when calculated over a lifetime. he concludes his assessment of a great books education by saying that it requires much discipline and determination accomplish it. In assessing Crabtree's essay on a great books education he lays out his opinions and addresses the benefits of them very clearly. One thing that makes his point not hard to accept is that in today's age it is not likely that people will accept this mindset of education. We are so ingrained in going to school just for a specialized position that it will take time for people to accept this. I think that he has some valid points that are worth considering and our work force would probably be better equipped if we took time to get a great books education.

We Love Them. We hate Them. We Take Them Exploring Ideas #2 ch 2

There are many reasons Americans take pills. For one, pills are simple. They are perfectly packaged in a small tablet that isn't messy. All the solutions to the problem are in a small pill, so that people don't have to really consider the solution to their problem. Secondly, they appear to be a quick fix. Americans are impatient and want to see results immediately. Thirdly, drugs are highly advertised and are highly promoted in our society. Doctors and Drug companies push their products and money is behind much of it.

We Love Them. We hate Them. We Take Them Writing Strategies #1 ch 2

Zugers opening strategy is important to the rest of his essay because he is illustrating how inseparable drugs are from the doctor. Zuger believes that doctors rely to heavily on pills to solve their problems and don't have a real understanding of the situation.

The Simpsons Writing Strategies #1 chapter 8

Benlow begins his essay by setting up the Simpsons as being a sitcom entirely on its own level. He believes that the Simpsons actually addresses important issues, usually by making fun of them. Benlow gives examples from certain episodes to prove his point. When concluding his essay he says that the Simpsons is more real to life than any of his viewers suspect. That in fact is the irony of it. In the Simposns they are unaware of the corrupt society they live in as we are in our American society.

The Simpsons Exploring Ideas #3 chapter 8

In this statement by Benlow that says we are " drawn and colored by the ridiculous institutions that constitute our society", he means that we are programmed by our society so that we don't think about the corrupt institutions that surround us. We laugh at the Simpsons obvious portrayal of the corrupt governing institutions, oblivious to the the fact that it is going on around us in reality.

Great Books Education Writing Strategies #4 chapter 6

Crabtree uses several different types of evidence to prove his point. He first uses examples based on others personal experiences, such as his photographer friend. He uses statistics when he uses the example of the medical field. Throughout his whole essay Crabtree uses reasoning that shows the practicality of his claim.

Great Books Education Exploring Ideas #1 ch 6

Crabtree says that a great books education allows student to wrestle with those questions that have faced human beings throughout the ages. He believes that a great books education is not only practical, but it is superior to the new perspective that has been taken on education. The modern approach on education is going to college to be trained for a job. Crabtree points out however that there is no security of a steady job, however a great books education would prepare any person for flexibility in different jobs. More fundamentally, Crabtree believes that a great books education will train people to think wisely, which will in turn result in a moraland good people.

Is Hunting Ethical? Exploring Ideas 1

In her essay, Causey is tying to make it known to her readers that the mindset of hunters needs to change. She does not think that hunting is necessarily wrong, but she thinks that some hunters kill animals without being reverent of the life they are taking. Her solution is that hunters must act ethically and think ethically. By acting ethically she thinks that hunters should not brag about their catch, refrain from calling it a sport and not boast of their catch by placing them up as "hood ornaments." By thinking ethically Causey believes that hunters should ask themselves what would honor and reverence life. Causey believes that the wrong sort of hunting is based on science and fact. She thinks this should be changed so that hunting is based on what is morally right. Only then will hunting be ethical.

In his short essay "Have it Your Way": Consumerism Invades Education, Benlow addresses some important concerns about education today. He became concerned with this invasion of consumerism in education when he heard students referred to as customers, as if they were people that were needing to be pleased. Consumers do not want to think, Benlow points out, they desire their needs to be met with the least amount of effort given on there part. They want the meal deal bargain, without deciding for themselves what kind of food they want. Benelow describes students as having this consumerist outlook when they approach education. They don't want to imagine, create or think about information that is presented to them. As consumers they want others to do the work for them. A true student on the other hand is encouraged to think for himself. He takes ideas and wrestles with the concepts making his own decision on what he thinks of them. Benlow ends his essay with the fear that students will start approaching college with this consumerist attitude. Where knowledge should be prepackaged so that it requires the least amount of thinking.

Writing Strategies #4

Pico Iyer relates some forgotten truths about a simple comma, that place it in a whole new light. When examining his essay it is evident that he organized the introduction to each of his paragraphs in a very deliberate way. The first sentence of every paragraph is a short sentence that sums up the point of his previous paragraph. This allows the reader to have a consice summary of one point before moving on to the next one. Iyer uses many colorful illustrations and images to help his readers better grasp the points he is trying to make. One that was particularly effective was the image of the comma giving the world "breadth and heft and depth" in a world of stark periods that have no inflections. Also his comparison of a comma to that of a lover noticing every slight detail of the one he loves gave a clear image of the accomplishments of a comma. A comma tells what the sentance implies, it may seem slight and unnoticable but with it, it communicates so much.