English Portfolio

I think that the strongest paper that I will include in my portfolio would be my research paper, which is about the movie Cinderella. It demonstrates my best work, because I spent a lot of time in researching and backing up my argument with evidence, and tying in that evidence to the purpose. I put the most time into the research paper and used the sources I found to my advantage. The weaknesses within the paper, would be that I need to put more of what I believe about the topic and narrow it down to just one topic. For example, I discussed three different effects of Cinderella on children, like gender roles, self esteem and relationships. To make my paper better I need to focus on just one of those things.

The paper that needs/needed to be edited the most was my close read McCandless essay. I already edited and changed the majority of the paper. What I focused on editing the most was incorporating the epigraphs and McCandless story into an argument and purpose. I think now my best area of the paper would be my argument, and how I used the epigraphs to support it. I still need to edit one more epigraph, the one about truth and sincerity and tie it into my argument, showing its significance not only on McCandless but the rest of society.

If Chris had lived

I think had Chris McCandless made it out of the wild alive, not too many of his actions and thinking about life would have changed. I think he would probably would view the concept of death differently, and probably appreciate life a lot more, similar to such changes Jon Krakauer made in his thinking after making it out alive through his adventure of climbing. I don't think Chris would contact his father, maybe he would have sent a postcard to his sister and mother, but he probably would not return home. If he did make it out alive, I could see him settling somewhere rural, outside of where most of society lives their lives. From the book, you see the places he decided to set up camp and stay for different periods of time, this is where I can see Chris fitting in. I think that McCandless' appreciation and love for nature, would not have changed. He would probably get a job, just considering the fact that if he had lived, he would have been very close to starvation, and probably needed food and new clothes. To find a job, he probably would contact the few people he let into his life on his journey, the ones that he wrote letters to. It is difficult to say exactly, what Chris might have done had he survived because his story already is so unpredictable.

Into the Wild Ch. 17 and 18

My overall view of Chris McCandless has only changed in the way that I feel even stronger about my opinion in the first place that McCandless was unique and not an arrogant, crazy fool for venturing into the wild so unprepared. I think that Krakauer's approach in the last two chapters was particularly effective. By basically addressing the naysayer over and over, and each time creating arguments that effectively, for some people, eliminate this point of view are extremely persuading. Although Krakauer is basically defending Chris repeatedly throughout the last two chapters, I think this is needed, because he really didn't really state his full opinion about Chris until the end. The ending was the portion of the novel, that Krakauer used to give his final opinion about Chris and his reasoning for his journey into the wild. This approach makes these chapters much more important and probably persuaded a lot more readers to adapt to Krakauer's opinion. Maybe even for some these chapters changed their mind's about Chris, which I think overall was Krakauer's purpose for writing this novel.

The Dark Art of Description

I think that part of Patricia Hampl's purpose for writing about description was to show that essentially you can write about anything if you can master describing in detail. The point I think to incorporate the story of the boy who came to her office, complaining that he had nothing to write about in his autobiography, was to show that even if you feel something is unimportant, it is still possible to make it important through things like description and detail.

Into the Wild chapters

I think that it was almost necessary for Krakauer to include the chapters about his own life and Chris' father because it established Krakauer's credibility. The chapters also gave as much of an answer that anyone will get as to why Chris did the things he did. Including the chapter about Walt, showed why Chris' relationship with his father was so damaged and why he wanted nothing to do with his family. Understanding that Krakauer went through a very similar experience Chris did, except he came out alive, gives great insight into what Chris could have been thinking. These chapters supported what I already thought as to why Chris went on his journey, and it proved even more that the act was not suicidal and Chris never wanted to die.

presenting rhetoric

I think that the most effective type of media in presenting an aspect of rhetoric, probably would have been the video. The combination of sound and seeing something at the same time, I think is the most effective in portraying ethos, pathos and logos. For example music could be incorporated in the video, which would be perfect to portray pathos because music is interpreted mainly through emotion of the viewer. Now that I look back on it, I probably would have chosen the video to present an aspect of rhetoric because there are so many different ways you could present rhetoric with the video.

Song

Well, I couldn't really think of a song that means a lot to me in particular, so I just decided to pick a song that I like to listen to and never really get sick of. I chose I'm Alive by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews. After actually reading the lyrics, the message it sends is important about how it is really easy to think about all the things that go wrong in life, but we only live once, and it's a blessing just to be alive and well.

I'm Alive lyrics

Feat - Dave Matthews

So damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me I'd like to thank my lucky stars that
I'm alive and well

It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you've sat and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me... I'm alive

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I'm alive and well
I'm alive and well

Stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's good for the soul when there's not a soul in sight
This motor's caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathing in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
Now I'm alive and well
Yeah I'm alive and well

Egos, Logos, Pathos

I think that all forms of rhetoric are probably equally important in making an argument, but if I had to choose, for me logos is probably the most effective. Even though people don't want to read facts and statistics, they often are the most effective in providing evidence to create an argument. Connecting to the emotion of the reader is important, but people can find holes in those arguments, most cases you can't really argue with the facts. I notice logos probably the most in Jon Krakhauer's, Into the Wild, because throughout all the chapters he continuously is quoting people he interviewed or quoting Chris McCandless's journal he wrote about his journey.

hitchhiking

I don't really know for sure if the use of hitchhiking has changed much over the years, the majority of people who still do it now are trying to get somewhere. Yet, there are those people out there regardless of the time period, who use hitchhiking to find victims. Present day, I think that all the scary movies about hitchhiking and murders that have resulted from giving a stranger a ride, makes hitchhiking unpopular and an unreasonable way to get around. Hardly anyone today is willing to let a stranger into their car, because we are aware that it is a safety concern and dangerous.

Gallien

I think the reason why Gallien did not call the police was because he probably could sense Chris was determined and saw there was nothing that would stop him. Like the few people in situations where they are faced with the choice to call or not call the authorities, Gallien probably thought it was not his duty to account for Chris's actions. Although Gallien knew Chris was in a danger and without the right equipment, he still offered to help out numerous times and practically forced him to take his food and shoes. Most people in this situation probably would have done the same thing, even though in the end calling the authorities probably could have saved Chris's life.

About me

Hey, my name is Brynn Nielsen. I'm from Wenatchee, Washington and this is my freshman year at WSU. My major right now is undecided, but I enjoy Psychology, so probably after this semester I will change it to that. I want to do well in school and I try to balance being with friends and studying as best I can. As for my writing, in high school English was fairly easy for me, but it will probably be more difficult in this class because its college. Outside of school, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, going to the gym, relaxing and watching TV if I have time. My favorite season is summer because I enjoy going up to Lake Chelan with friends and boating.