Definition / Description Essay Assignment

In this essay, you will provide your individual definition for a person, place, event, or concrete object. Give the audience a full and insightful understanding of what this topic means -- to you.

Minimum essay length: three pages, MLA format.

As you write, focus on the following:

Use detailed description and imagery to communicate important concrete, literal aspects of your topic. Try to engage all five senses as you develop your description. Note: this is important even if your are dicussing an abstract concept

Use connotative diction to describe the personal impressions, feelings, or ideas associated with your concept.

Use figurative language to provide evocative imagery, personal perspective, and revealing comparisons that clarify and develop your description.

Strategies that may help:

Use narration to describe the subject of your discussion. Linking this idea to events that illustrate your experiences with the topic will provide opportunities for insight.

You can take some time to describe what it is not. Contrast your perspective with other views or opinions that help define your personal perspective.

Things to avoid:

*Topics outside of your personal experience. Your focus in this assignment is to clearly communicate what you already know, not to get mired down in research about some new topic you don't fully understand. Pick something you have spent a great deal of time doing, viewing, or thinking about.

*Broad topics. This is similar to the previous item. Do not try to address broad abstractions. Do not try to define the concept of "faith" or "love" or "justice" or "sportsmanship" or "peace." These issues are generally far too broad to be addressed in a brief paper. 

Rhetorical Analysis Peer Edit -- Annie Dillard

These are the ideas we will be addressing as we peer-edit the Annie Dillard essay. Here are the peer-edit questions you will address as you read your partner's paper:

Step One:(Do this on the printed out paper itself) Work through the paper, identifying errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and citation. 

Step Two: Answer the following questions

1. To what extent did the writer accurately identify the text's purpose in a clear, effective thesis statement? If there were elements you thought were strong, quote them and explain what made these claims or word choices effective. If there were elements you thought needed improvement, quote them, explain what needs to be improved, and provide specific, useful suggestions for development.

2. Paragraph intro sentences need to make a claim about how the author used rhetoric to support the purpose of the piece. 

a. Where did the author make an especially effective claim? Provide a quote and explain what specifically about the author's writing supported the effectiveness of the topic sentence.

b. Where did the author make a less effective claim? Provide a quote and explain what specifically about the author's writing hindered the claim. Provide clear, constructive suggestions for improvement.

3. Evidence needs to be clearly relevant and smoothly incorporated into a sentence that establishes the context and / or significance of the quote.

a. Where did the author incorporate effective evidence? Provide a quote and explain what specifically about the selection or incorporation of this evidence supported the paragraph's topic or paper's thesis.

b. What generally needs to be improved about the selection and/or incorporation of evidence? Provide a quoted example of a less effective piece of evidence and explain what specifically  about the author's writing hindered the claim. Provide clear, constructive suggestions for improvement.

4. Analysis needs to clearly explain how the word choice in the quoted evidence adds meaning (imagery, emotion, persona, mood, tone, symbolism, connections, abstract ideas, concrete examples, unspoken connotations, etc.)to Dillard's discussion and how the creation of this meaning supports the development of Dillard's purpose.

a. Where did the author effectively and completely discuss the impact of the author's word choice? Provide a quote and explain what specifically about the analysis supported reader understanding of Dillard's rhetoric?

b. What generally needs to be improved about the author's analysis? Provide a quoted example of less effective or incomplete analysis. Explain what specifically was less effective about this analysis, and provide clear, constructive suggestions for improvement.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Analysis Format

Introduction:

Hook: Raise the Question at Issue. What problem or topic of enduring significance is the author addressing

Transition: Next, demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation. You can address the context of the discussion or the occasion for which the text was written or the significance of the subject or the demands of the audience

Thesis: Provide a clear statement regarding the author's purpose or effect of the writing on the intended audience. Try to be as clear and specific as possible . 

Limiters: Finally, explain how specific rhetorical strategies are used by the author to support this purpose in this specific rhetorical situation.

Body:

Topic Sentence: Identify and describe a rhetorical strategy used to support this purpose

Concrete Detail:  Provide specific text as concrete evidence of the use of this strategy. Incorporate this evidence into a blended sentence that establishes the context and/or significance of the text you selected

Analysis 1: Explain the specific meaning established by the use of this rhetoric -- what specific ideas are created and/or how do we know this passage is an example of the strategy you identified?

Analysis 2: Analyze how this rhetorical strategy in this context supports some specific aspect of the author's purpose in this rhetorical situation. Be as specific as possible about the effect the use of this rhetoric has at this point in the discussion.

Make all of your paragraphs three- chunk paragraphs!!!

Conclusion

Provide a general overview of the rhetorical strategies used by the author, summarize the effect they has on the audience, and explain how this supported the purpose of the piece and supported insight into the Question at Issue

Evaluation guidelines for three - column notes

1. Provide a minimum of three examples from each of the four sections of the essay. Select quotes that seem especially effective in their use of diction to create the mood, meaning, or effect of the essay.

2. Provides clear, accurate description of context and significance of all quotes

• Context: What events are  happening in the essay at this point
• Significance: Why does it matter that this specific thing is being said or done? 

3. Provides insightful discussion of how this passage uses the specific meaning of these word choices in order to communicate the ideas and accomplish the purpose you identified in your first response. Make sure to address

• implied or figurative meaning
• connections to other ideas or word choices raised elsewhere in the text
• the effect of these word choices on the mood or atmosphere in which the narrative takes place
• the impact of the word choice on the reader's feelings or understanding
• any special connection to the specific ideas raised in this part (I, II, III, or IV) of the text

Annie Dillard "Total Eclipse" Purpose Discussion Period 6

As you write, try to consider the impact of the text on a reasonable, inquisitive audience. We can't know what the author thought, but we can understand ideas, meaning, emotions, purposes established by her words.

• Annie Dillard explained an event in “Total Eclipse” that had a significant impact on her and how it changed the ways that she viewed life, trying to get the audience to think about their own idea of how life is viewed
• In her writing, “Total Eclipse”, Annie DIllard was trying to recreate an experience she had with a solar eclipse. Although her purpose may have been to inform the audience of what seeing an eclipse is equivalent to, she also made it evident that her thoughts were changed about humans and life in general.
• Annie Dillard writes Total Eclipse in an attempt to compare the human experience against the weight of meaning that lies within the occurrence of an Eclipse.
• In the passage “Total Eclipse” by Annie Dillard, she describes a major event her life that makes her think about the way human life
• Anne Dillard  used the total eclipse to describe how that experience changed her perspective on her own life to get across to the reader how little experiences such as that can dramatically change a person’s perspective on their lives
• Annie Dillard writes the piece, “Total Eclipse,” in order to engage the audience with an anecdote of the solar event, meanwhile leaving them to ponder human existence and death.
• The purpose of this piece is to persuade the reader to not take life for granted through her own reflection and mistakes.
• Annie Dillard created a task of getting the reader to understand the small aspects and details of her life by comparing them to the solar eclipse with a hint of mystery and death. She accomplished this by opening the reader up to hear her thoughts and feel her pain.
• The Purpose of Annie Dillard’s piece, “Total Eclipse”, is to change reader's opinion about their own existence and see how they take different things in life for granted by describing her experience with a total eclipse.
• In Annie Dillard,” Total Eclipse”, she presents her unique perspective on an event in her life and how it affected her view on the world after this event. This piece shows her emotions throughout this experience such as the joy she felt on her way into the mountains, and the awed fear she felt when she saw the eclipse.
• The purpose of Annie Dillard’s piece is to describe her thoughts and emotions during the solar eclipse that she witnessed
• Annie Dillard’s “Total Eclipse” draws the reader into a world without familiarity or comfort, a world comparable to death. Her article illustrates the fragility and insignificance of human perceptions of the universe against a vast and unpredictable void of nothingness.

Annie Dillard "Total Eclipse" Purpose Discussion

As you write, try to consider the impact of the text on a reasonable, inquisitive audience. We can't know what the author thought, but we can understand ideas, meaning, emotions, purposes established by her words.

*make the reader examine and reflect upon what they value and not take events or relationships for granted
*the readers experience death of a perspective on life and a change in perspective about how we understand the world...

*what the reader gets out of total eclipse is a unique perspective on a natural phenomenon that is different than what others witnessing the same event might see

*Dillard explains the Epiphany she had regarding the nature of the mind while viewing a full solar eclipse, prompting reader to contemplate the solidity of their personal understanding of life and significance

*express concepts of self-awareness and mental survival instincts to preserve these understandings

*change views on human life and the role of humans and their place on earth after her observations of the total eclipse

*communicate an experience that changed her understanding of the meaning of life and compel the reader to reflect on the significance of their own life.

What was the purpose of the piece as a whole?

Part One:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*There is a correlation between her experiences at the beginning of the passage and the eclipse
*Light imagery / color imagery -- people risk their lives for it and gold also associated with sun and sunlight
*Platinum blond woman imagery -- with the black dress -- color imagery associated with the world during the eclipse
*Old men at the hotel -- practically dead -- drunk. loss of life
*P5 -- six old men yelling six! six!
*P4 -- snow sometimes happy -- but an avalanche white is color imagery rep. death and cold -- like the absence of the sun.
*Too much of a good thing -- platinum wealth, but also death and sadness
*

Part Two:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Light imagery -- the beauty of nature vs second half darkness that followed the eclipse
*Color imagery parallels light and dark imagery
*P18 -- not a scientific experience -- emotional instead. the absence of the sun, not the presence of the mood
*P24 we got the light wrong -- taking life for granted, seeking new meaning or interpretation of life
*The sun symbolic of life, nature, comfort -- this is being taken away -- experienceing a world without these things
*Repeats the sun being an old worn wedding band when eclipsed -- reconsidering marriage to Gary?
*P23 -- alludes to being part of a primitive civilization -- no longer a scientific or rational understanding of the world
*



Part Three:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Existential crisis -- what is significance? It obliterated meaning itself -- a different way of thinking (or not thinking, feeling or responding to ) the world
*p28-- riding these monsters deeper down. get audience to understand that she views the world differently now than any of them possibly could without this experience
*After the eclipse -- the devastation is still all around them almost like it is alive, a person
*It is a big event -- but insignificant in the perspective of the universe -- discusses the Crab Nebula -- a supernova ancient but unchanging
*P36 -- we had all died and were alone in eternity. We are the dead. 
* Presents herself as unstable -- 
*Christianity allusions -- death and rebirth

Part Four:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Rebirth after the sun comes back out P50 references back to the things she has seen before headlamp and the canary -- repetition of these motifs
*Easy to die -- how easy the world can become dark
*Describes the place as death -- waking up after the eclipse -- sun is life eclipse is death P 38 -- the ring around the eclipse is like a lifesaver -- he is thinking candy, she is thinking literally
*Waking up at the beginning and the end -- traveling full circle 
*

Commentary and Conclusions for Annie Dillard's "Total Eclipse" -- period 1

What was the purpose of the piece as a whole?

Part One:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Purpose was to show memory of smaller details
*Jumps between ideas a lot -- they don't seem to connect with each other -- not much transition
*Stream of consciousness -- addressing issues as they occur to her without a specific format and with little transition or explanation
*Conversational tone and wording
*Comparisons seem dark and negative
*avalanche falling down a hole 
*
Part Two:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Color imagery -- yellows and golds vs. "cold and metallic colors
*addresses the issues of life and death. Transition of light to dark is comparison of life and death
*descriptions of dead plants, people, landscape -- the removal of the soul
*Describes P22 reveals ideas about her relationship with Gary -- a big distance between them. An opportunity to reevaluate relationships with others. Eclipse as a wedding band, a worn ring.
*Sets herself up as innocent about what is going to be happening with the events. The natural event doesn't unfold like a man made one. Takes her by surprise and shocks
*Like death, this occurs without preamble -- no warning, sudden and shocking and alarming
*


Part Three:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Main focus seems to be the significance of life and human perspective on life vs the reality of natural life -- the significance of life or events is up to the individual
*During eclipse: life isn't measurable -- P32,33 examples of distances and unfathomable hugeness of the universe compared with intimate details like remembering a person's face
*P30: Christmas card with religious images, continues imagery camera imagery -- lens cap
*Gives examples of how you can see things on paper or film and the experience is nothing like it
*The experience of it removes your ability to think rationally -- you can only react to what you see -- too much to process
*Mushroom cloud imagery. Huge event, but subjective not objective. Simile -- the end of the world connotation -- death. Destruction of the world " Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds"
*P31 the ring (sun) compared to the whole sky, a goose in a flock of geese, a dime at arms length
*
Part Four:
Significant Ideas, Passages, Conclusions
*Deals with reflection on reality after the experience 
*Uses the planet's layers as a metaphor for layers of consciousness -- comparison with the gold miners and how they go so deep -- and they look as pale as death when they come back 
*We are taught to only stay on the first layer of consciousness -- maybe we need to be more "deep"?
*Image of the lifesaver -- both literal and figurative. Looked ring-like

Initial Activities for Total Eclipse by Annie Dillard

1. Number your paragraphs to support references during discussion
2. Discuss the focus of each of the four parts of the essay. For each,
a. Describe / discuss how the author chose to discuss her experience in this part of the essay. How do these topics, details, and insights reveal different aspects of her experience?
b. Support your characterizations and conclusions with specific examples from the text (quotes are best).
3. What does the author seek to accomplish with this discussion?
4. Identify passages where the author uses diction choices to establish or develop her meaning and message.