Ready to Write More Ch-11

C HAPTE R

Expressing Your Opinions As a writer, you might be asked to give your opinion of a controversial topic in the news. You might also be asked to express your opinion about something you have read, seen, or heard. Opinion papers have a very important place in academic writing. In some will be required to give your opinion of a topic you have discussed or an article or a book you have read. For example, in a literature class, a professor might ask for your reaction to a poem or short story. In a music class, an assignment could involve writing a reaction to a piece of classes you

music.

Expressing Your Opinion about Controversial lssues

lssue

I

Prewriting

A.

Read the followihg newspaper article about two convicted murderers who were put to death for crimes they had been convicted of committing many years before.

What Is Justice? TWO MEN WERE PUT TO DEATH last week in the United States for murders that they had been convicted of committing many years ago. Billy Bailey died in the first hanging in Delaware in fifiry years. It was twenty years ago that he murdered an elderly couple after breaking into their home.John Thylor, a child rapist and murderer, was shot by a five-man firing squad in Utah. Polls show that about 70 percent of U.S. citizens favor capital punishment. Many believe that people who commit horrendous crimes deserve to die brutally in retum for the brutaliry that they inflicted on their victims. Others protest the barbarism of the death penalty, be it by lethal injection, electric chair, firing squad, or hanging. While there were many people who supported the two deaths that took place last week, there were also many protesters.

A

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CHAPTER

11

El.

In smail groups discuss the articre and answer the fortowing questions. a.

unishment? Do you

think there are

b. c.

c-

Brainstorm a rist of reasons that support your opinion about capitar punishment.

Writing

on a separate piece of paper; write a paragraph that expresses your opinion about the use of capital punishment in cases such as the two described in the articte. Begin with a topic sentence that states the issue your. opinion. organize your suppofting sentences according to "nc order of importancl. Revising and Editing Exchange drafts with a classmate. Use the checklists on pages 56 and 75. Discuss any suggestions that your partner has for revision and editing. write or type a revised version of your essay.

Issue 2 Prewriting

A.

Choose one of the foilowing topics and freewrite about it for ten minutes. Your opinion about the use of animars for laboratory experiments your opinion about women serving in the -- -----*l your opinion about same_sex scho6k

o . o

B.

_iil;;

Brainstorm a rist of reasons' facts, or exampres to support your opinion.

c.

use your freewriting and brainstorming as a basis for pranning your paragraph. Writing On a separate piece of paper; write th topic sentence that states the issue a

supporting sentences according to o the most important reason. Endwith opinion. ReMsing and Editing

Exchange drafts with a crassmate. use the checkrists on pages 56 and 75. Discuss any suggestions that your partner has for revision ano eoiting. write or type a revised version of your essay.

DGRESSING YOUR

OPINIONS A€i3

fssue 3 Prewriting Pretend you ate manied to one of the managers of a small computer company in Toronto, Canada. Your spouse has just received the following memo. Read the memo and complete the exercise that follows.

wwry-ffi[w.uffi

TO:

All

FROM:

RE:

Jim Philips Merger with Logicom

DATE:

June

Employees

30,2-

As most of you know, we have been talking for several months now with the people at Logicom about merging otu two companies. !7e are pleased to announce that the details have been worked our and we will be combining our companies. The official merger date is ser for October 5. \7e are confident that we can look forward to a long 'and successful alliance with Logicom, since our products complement each other so well. This merger should lead to greater success in the marketplace than either company could achieve on its own. This memo is also to confirm that as per Logicom's insistence, we will be moving our offices and people to Monueal. We know that this will be difficult and disruptive for some of you, but we sincerely believe that it is in the best interests of the company. \Ue hope that each and every one of you will ioin us in this exciting opportunity. Further details regarding the merger and the move will be sent to you shortly.

Writing Write a letter to your parcnts or a close friend that expresses your opinion about this news.

Dear

Love,

15'4F

CHAPTER

11

Revising and Editing Revise, edit, and copy your letter over before handing it in.

Expressing your Opinion about a piece of Aft

Painting

l

Look at the painting by Jackson Pollock called Number lo. Then read one student,s opinion about it.

Discuss the Jackson poilock painting and the student,s opinion of it with partner. a what is your opinion of the paintingiwhat is the student,s opiniona

D@RESSING YOUR

OPINIONS A 5€;

Painting 2 Look at the painting by John Singleton Gopley called Watson and the Shark Then read the information about the artist and the painting.

John Singleton Copley was one of the most important North American painters of the eighteenth century. He painted huge and dramatic paintings based on important events of his time. His paintings were often very realistic. Watson udhe Shark is one of Copley's most memorable works. It tells the true story of a man named Watson who was attacked by a shark while he was swimming in Havana Harbor. Watson was dramaticallv rescued and asked Copley to paint a picture of his story Copley made the painting as realistic as he could. Some arr hisrorians think that the shark symbolizes evil and that the man rescuing Watson symbolizes good. They believe that Watson himself symbolizes the way we all struggle between the forces of good and evil.

Prewriting Discuss the painting with a partner and answer the following questions.

1. Z.

3. 4.

\Vhat do you see when you look at the painting? Describe the people and their surroundings. You rnay need to use your dictionary. 'What is happening in the painting? How does the painting make you feel? Do you like the painting? Why or why nor? How does the painting symbolize the conflict between good and evil?

Writing On a separate piece of paper, write a paragraph describing your opinion of Watson

and the Sha*. Revising and Editing Exchange drafts with a partner. Use the checklists on pages 56 and 75. Discuss any suggestions that your partner has for revision and editing. Write or type a rcvised version of your essay.

A

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CHAPTER

11

Painting

O Look at the painting by Andrew wyeth. Then read the information about the artist and the painting.

Andrew lil7yeth is another

Prewriting

3:",#:"

your impressions of the painting with a paftner and answer the questions at the painting? Describe the woman and to use your dictionarv. the painting? rtist is trying to tell? e to describe the painting?

Writing

on a separate piece of paper, write your opinion of christina,s worrd. Revising and Editing . Use the checklists on pages 56 and 75. Discuss

has for revision and editing. Write or type a

READY TO WRITE

Follow-up Activity

Look at the painting again, now that you know the story behind it. Answer the following questions.

1' Ie"q aspects of the painting express a mood of despair and a sense of frustration?

D@RESSING YOUR

OPINIONS 157

Z.

Do you see that the painting is about life's limitatioru and unattainable Why or why not?

goalsT

3. What is your opinion of the painting now that you know the story that \ilyeth was trying to tell? \il7rite a paragraph explaining your new response.

Expressing Your Opinion about a Photograph Prewriting

A.

Look at the two photos.

B.

Answer the following questions.

1. Describe what is happening in each photo. Z. Which photo do you like better? \Vhy?

3. 4.

A

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CHAPTER

11

Which photo has more meaning for you? Why? Which photo would you find it easier to write about?

r Writing

on a separate piece of paper; write your opinion about one of the photos. Revising and Editing Exchange drafts with someone who chose the same photo you did. compare and contrast your opinions' Then help each other revise and edit using the checklists on pages 56 and 75' write or type a revised version

of youi essay.

Responding to Gluotations Many writing assignmentlt"loly. responding to quorations. you might be asked to explain the meaning of a quotation and ,n."

gi".'v.", .it"t."

A-

"r,,.

Read the following quotations from around the world and put a checkmark next to those that you find especiaily interesting. In smail discuss the quotes that

all the members of your group checked.

g;il;,

1. patience is power. (Chinese proverb) z' The main thing in one's own private world is to try as you cry. (Maya

3.

4

5. 6.

It

Angelou)

to laugh

as

much

is very

tiring to hate. (Jean Rostand) Anyone who looks for a perfect friend will remain without friends. (Tirrkish proverb) We are shaped by what we love. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) Jealousy is a tiger that tears not only its prey but also its own raging heart. (Michael BeerJ Happiness sneala in through a door you didn,t know you left open. flohn Barrymore)

Life shrinla or expands according to one,s courage. (Anais Nin) Humility is the root, motheq nurse, foundation, and bond of all virtue. (St. John Chrysostom)

10'

winning is neither. everything nor rhe only thing; it is one of many ' things. (Joan Benoit S"-".lsJnl--

11' A human life is rike a letter of the alphabet. It 12'

it can be part of a great meaning. (Anonymous)can I hate television-r hate it as much as I hate

eating peanuts. (Orson Welles)

c-

be meaningress.

peanuts. But

I can,t

or

stop

choose one of the quotes you discussed w*h your group and write a oneparagraph response to it. Be sure to incrude tnl quole tn" o.ginning of your paragraph. Exprain why you chose that quote and how "i it has meaning for you. Read your reactions to the other members of your group for their feedback. Then revise, edit, and copy your response over before h"nOing ii

ii.

EXPRESSING YOUR

OPINIONS A 5,S)

Expressing Your Opinion about a Poem

A.

Read the information about Robert Frost and his poem "The Road Not Taken,"

Robert Frost (1874-1963) is one of the most important North American poets of the twentieth century. "The Road Not Thken" tells the story of an important choice the author made in his life.

The Road Not Thken

I.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,l And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;z

il.

Then took the other,

just as fair,l And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wearl4 Though as for that the passing there Had wom them really about the same, as

IV.

a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:7

Two roads diverged in a wood, and II took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

III. And both that moming

equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.5 Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way,6 I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with

-Robert

Frost

1

One road divided into two roads in a forest the place where it turned under the low bushes 3 | took the other road, which was just as nice a Because it was slightly overgrown and less used 5 No one had walked on either road yet that day 6 | knew how one road often leads to another road 7 In some olace in the future 2 To

Prewriting The four stanzas (groups of lines) of the poem each tell a part of the story. Read

each stanza again and think about what it means. Then look at the following summaries. Each summary refers to one of the stanzas in the poem. Match each summary with the stanza it refers to.

1.

He decided to take the road that looked like it had not been used as much. Stanza

2.

Sometime in the future, he will remember this day when he had to make choice and be glad that he took the road that was less traveled. Stanza

A

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CHAPTER

11

a

3.

A

man was walking in the woods and he came to a place where the single road into rwo separate roads. ,"_y that he could not take both

H.;;

,oj;lf, Stanza

4.

Although he chose the second road, he hoped that he would be able to retum

some day to take the first one. But

h.

do,rb.t

J;ir;;ir. ever would.

Stanza

Writing Robert Frost's poem is based on a choice he had to make. Think about an important choice that you have made. on pape4 of describe the situation and the effect your choice " on has had Vorili".

""p",.l'ol""

Revising and Editing Exchange drafts with a classmate. use the checklists on pages 56 and 75. Discuss any suggestions that your partner has for revision and editing. write or type a revised version of your essay.

B' F"r:ailL:,i"formation

TO WR|TE

about Emirv Dickinson and her poem ..Hope ts the Thing with

Lmitv Dickinson (1830-1886)

Thin! *itr, p."irt.rr" i, o.r.

of the metaphor of a bird to descr

gifted,poets' "Hope Is the ln this poem, she uses

s'

Prewriting

Hope Is the Thing with Feathers Hope is the thing with feathers That perchesl in the soul, And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all.

And sweetest in the galez is heard: And sore must be the storm That could abash3 the little bird That kept so many warrn.

-Emily I sits 2

strong wind 3 upset

4

Dickinson

an extreme situation

s a small piece

of food

EXPRESSING YOUR

OPINIONS A GiA

Prewriting Discuss your opinion of the poem with a partner. Writing Emily Dickinson describes hope as a thing with feathers. How would you describe hope? Write a paragraph about one of the following topics.

1. A time in your life when hope was very important 7. Your hopes for the future 3. Your own description of hope

READY

TO WRITE

Revising and Editing Exchange drafts with a classmate. Use the checklists on pages 56 and 75. Discuss any suggestions that your partner has for revision and editing. Write or type a revised version of your essay.

Metaphor Activity A metaphor is a phrase that describes something by comparing it to something else without the words like or as. Beread the first two lines of Emily Dickinson's poem. Using these lines as a model, create your own metaphors for each of the following words. Example Happiness is a flower withbude rhatblossome in my heart.

1.

Jealousy is a/an

with

that

Z.

Beauty is a/an

with

that

3.

Hate is a/an

with

that

4. Love is a/an

with

that

5.

\Tisdom is a/an

with

that

6.

Fear is a/an

that

A62,

CHAPTER

11

with

The lnternet has many.ri3ts.gffamous sayings or pieces of advice. Exprore the web to find some of these rists. write down five interesting sayings or pieces of advice and share them w*h your crassmateschoose one and write a paragraph explaining your own opinion of the saying or the piece of advice.

You Be the Editor The following e-mail contains seven mistakes. Find the mistakes and conect them. Then copy the corrected message onto a separate piece of paper.

I just finished reading one of the best books I have ever read. It is calred One Hundredyears of Sokufu and was written by Gabriel Garcfa M6rquez' He won the Nober prize for this book in rggz.It was first published in 1967 in Argentina and translated into english in 1970. Briefly' its the story of the fictional town of Macondo as seen through the eyes of many generations of the Buendia family. I leamed about the changes that the town goes through as it grow and the years roll by we

also read about the universal themes of

birth, death, love, war, wealth, poverry, honor and comrption as we spend time with this large and fascinating family. The writing is simple, yer beautiful, even in translation' If you are looking for a reaily good

book to read, recommend this book to you. Let me know if you read it. I hope that you enjoy

reading about these people and their lives as much as I did. Love, J,rdy

D(PRESSING YOUR OPINIONS

a

Gt3

On Your Own A-

Look at the two cartoons below. Choose one and write your reaction to the ideas expressed in the cartoon.

Drawing by Rini, @ L995 Thc Neur Yorker Magazine, Inc.

IION

by

'4 ry.

\Eiley

Write your opinion about a song, W program, or movie. You may choose one that you are familiar with or one that you have just seen or heard for the first time.

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oHAPTER

1'1