Final Blog

Though this semester got an unorthodox start, through no one's fault no one knew what was in store for this online class. But quickly we fell into our assignments, reading and paper, and of course, this Blog. This blog has provided a casual platform for me to comment and explore the readings without the pressure of writing a whole formal paper on them. I was able to think in a less structured way. When able to think and write this way it made it easier to learn from the readings and the styles the writers used then take that into my own writing.

Though I learned something from all the readings and the writers themselves, one that resonated with me the most was “The Art of Composition” essay by Mark Twain. I, like many, believe that Mark Twain was one of the great writers of  American Literature and that endless knowledge can come from his writing. This essay directly tells the reader how to improve their writing. And that is by reading, reading and studying other writers style, I can hone my skills by reading things like this Essay, creating a bigger stash of sentences, structure, vocabulary until writing can flow naturally.

“Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott was another reading that I could relate to and learn from. I know that the more drafts I make the more I read and edit my work, the better it gets. Lamott reminded me that in the wake of writing 5 papers for this class it would be daunting and at times stressful, but much easier to take on when you start each with a first draft.  

In ending my time in this online class and this blog, I think it important to note that I feel my writing has improved with each paper I have written and each reading I have explored. My understanding of rhetoric, styles and strategies has deepened and I have become a better writer and student.

Thank you to my Professor, my peers whom I edited with and of course the many writers who have and continue to provide me with knowledge in and out of school.
~Alli

Satire and Swift

Jonathan Swift was a master of satire. I remember noting that to myself when I first read “Gulliver’s Travels”. To this point I was not aware that Swift also wrote such disturbing satirical dialogue about the poverty and devastation of his country. This being “Modest Proposal” written as a proposal of a concerned citizen. Witnessing the starvation of his people, he devises a plan. He takes the reader through his process, that he sees the starving families, that keep breeding. That there are so many young children, that cannot contribute to the country in any way yet, he finds a way for them to contribute. He then proposes that (prepare yourself), they should eat the babies, and make a market of them. (That was hard just to write). I found my jaw dropping and my hand flying to cover my mouth as I read this proposal, but Swift flawlessly maintains a tone throughout the proposal, keeping it straightforward and factual. One could start to agree with the points he makes as he presents them unemotional and as a plainly concerned member of this country. To this citizen it is an obvious solution almost staring at them in the face. He keeps the tone and drops all ethics, truly  he doesn’t give ethics any thought.

What you can take away from this bone chilling satire, is the skill that Swift has mastered in tone and attitude. He keeps it consistent throughout despite that it is not real, and does not actually support this proposal. When one is writing a satire, jumping to the extreme of one argument can open a reader's eyes to the other argument. That is the benefit of political satire, to show how ludicrous the other argument is.