Blog Assignment #3

            In order to be a strong reader and writer there are some abilities and knowledge you need to have. In the article “Helping Students Use Textual Sources Persuasively” by Margaret Kantz, she makes it clear that a good reader and writer works hard to gather their sources. By having sources that you can converse with, the idea of not restating and paraphrasing will be easier to achieve. A good writer is someone who can take the information that is gathered and create a whole new idea and opinion based off of their knowledge that they gained. Bits and pieces from each source, what a good reader will feel is important, is brought together into new ideas that the writer creates. As in any type of writing as well, the subject should be interesting to the reader and a little creativity should be used.

            Kantz believes that a strong sustained research assignment starts with the right sources. By choosing sources from different points of view and periods of time, alternating opinions are slowly leaked through and this is the initial aspect of finding an interesting research topic. After reviewing the sources and the information that is available, Kantz feels that the writer should be able to invent an original problem and purpose that will sustain the readers attention while also causing them to question the problem brought up. As a result of the sources then conversing with each other throughout the paper, the argument should be strong and effective.

            Although rhetorically thinking facts and opinions are both claims, they are distinguished by the way the audience receives them. A fact the reader will accept as true without requiring proof, while an opinion will not be seen as true without proof. This distinction is seen as important because the audience is the one who is forming new opinions based on the overall information given throughout the paper. A fact can also be used as evidence for an opinion so they both work together to form a rich analysis. Rhetoric and rhetorical analysis comes into play in reading and writing according to Kantz in the sense when reading the sources one must be analyzing the information. It cannot be expected that the information is going to all factual and that is where the rhetorical analysis comes in. By looking at the context of the time period in which the source was written, the author, and influential things of that time, it will create a more complete rhetorical analysis for the writing that you are trying to create.

            The ethos, or credibility, that Kantz wants you to create is one that is backed up by sources while also forming new ideas and opinions. The sources are used as a supplement to prove to the audience and persuade them that your thinking is correct. Having facts from your research included will help to validate your point being made as well as convince the audience that you know what you are talking about. Comparing what Kantz advocates to that of the thinking of Edward Said, he can be seen as a role model. Kantz advocates for the kind of reader, writer, and thinker who pieces many outside sources together to come to a conclusion and branch out to prove many points. In Said’s work, he used past historical experiences to explain why orientalism is still present in our society today. Even though his speaking on orientalism was before the incidents on September 11, 2001, it still holds true today now even more than ever. Drawing on past issues to explain current ones is what Kantz wants to be done. She feels that to effectively achieve a successful work you need to look at all angles of your argument.

            In my sustained research argument I will gather sources from many different areas and from different points of view. I will also make sure they are credible so I can attempt to base some of my information off of the facts found. Another thing that will make these sources more credible and useful to me is researching the authors of the sources. Said as well as Kantz believe that you need to see as the experts see in an attempt to get the best experience possible. By understanding the author’s views and opinions on the situation it will be easier to take the information and use it towards a new topic of inquiry. In order to create ethos on my own page I will look into the views of the Iraq war now and even past views such as when the war began. As a result of having sources to compare it begins to create conversation that stimulates even more questions and information. Finding information from veterans will also be very useful because they are going to be as close to firsthand information as you can get. Although it will still be opinionated, the general feel of the veterans and soldiers will be relevant. When moving on with this paper I can see myself facing issues of not knowing where to go exactly with the information I have. I tend to get too much information and have a hard time sorting through all of it. Now that I am aware of my weakness however, I will be more cautious when finding sources and picking out their relevance to my topic. 

2 comments July 10, 2008