After going through and lookin at different examples, I have realized that my close reading paper was definetly not as strong as it could have been. I would consider this essay to be in the low/medium range. While looking back at what I wrote for this essay I realized I missed the main point of the essay, that being to include context with each epigraph. I have seen that explaining to the reader who exactly that person is that said that quote, and why they are important can make an essay so much more stronger. It makes it so the readers not just like okay, who is this person and why should i care. To make my paper stronger I need to add alot more context to it. I need to take the time to actually do some background research on each person that I used the epigraph from. This will also help make my close reading stronger because I believe it will help me find more parallels between the author and the following chapters, to have a better understanding of why Kraukuer used that passage as the epigraph.

You guys are going to have to bear with me because i just got my wisdom teeth out haha. Anways, I definitely think that Karakuers use of comparing Chris's stories to other peoples adventures makes the story stronger. I really had no idea that there were so many other people out their who had the same motives and actions as Chris. It helped to find other people to relate him to, made Chris's actions seem a little less crazy. An example of this is about Everette Russe in Chapter 9, where Sleight makes a statement that "Everett was kind of different. But him and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream. That's what was great about them. They tried. Not many do" (96). This just shows that many people out their did the same things that Chris did. It still makes me believe Chris doesnt deserve all the attention he has recieved since other people have gone ot on similar adevnetures.

Overall, I think pathos is the most effect when writing a paper. I believe that the emotional aspects when making an arguement, just makes the arguement stronger. It gives people the chance to relate to those emotions. I feel like for my Into the Wild Essay, the pathos was definetly helpful for my arguement. I am not saying that all three are important, because they definetly are. Logos is important just so there are facts to back up where your emotions are coming from. I think ethos is the least important depending on what kind of paper you are writing. For our essays so far, just getting facts and peoples opinions is making the papers stronger. We are not to the point where you need that credibility to make a point. However, my essay definetly needs some revising so I can make it stronger and have more facts, and possibly some credibility.

"After intially writing the essay on your opinion of Christopher McCandless, has further read in the book Into the Wild changed your opinion of McCandless or set or more so set it in stone?"

As I continue to read further and further into the book Into the Wild my views about McCandless are still the same. When I wrote my essay I thought that McCandless did not deserve all the praise that he has recieved and that he was naiive about the whole thing. I totally understand wanting to go and live off the wilderness, be one with nature. But McCandless would accept help from people, worked jobs, lived in certain places while on his trip. In I believe chapter 2 it talks about the people finding Chris and that he had been living in a bus. I think if he really wanted to experience nature he wouldn't be living inside a bus, but instead out in the wilderness. I also just can not get over the fact that Chris just stopped having contact with his family. Im really close to my family, and I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose contact with my sister for two years to finally find out that she had died. I still don't understand why he would want to do that... Im still trying to keep an open mind, so we will see if my opinion of him changes as I continue on reading.

Boot Camp

What was the most important thing you learn in Boot Camp. Explain why.

I feel like Boot Camp just helped me remember things that I have learned throughout High School along with some new information. I really liked that some of the homework assignments forced me out of my comfort zone. For example, making sure I include what "I say" but also include what "they say" in my essays. It makes the arguement stronger when I show the other peoples opinions, and also explains to the readers why I am writing an essay on a certain topic. Throughout High School I have been writing essays that follow the 5 paragraph format and the typical thesis statements. So it is going to be difficult for me to leave the behind and start from fresh, but I am excited to see the improvement in my writing throughout the semester. Boot Camp helped me to make sure a take a second look at my essays and make sure i am achieving the goal of my essay, that the readers get out of the essay that I want them to get. Boot Camp definetly helped me get on the right track to write essays throughout this class.

A little about me!

Hi! My names Lindsey, my friends call my Linds, or Lu. I come from a small cowtown known as Duvall. If you have heard of it let me know! So Pullman is not that much different from where i grew up. I went to Cedarcrest Highschool and was in Honors English for 2 years. I don't read that often unless I find a book that I can not put down. Love those kind of books! I work hard and try to make sure I get good grades. One of my main interests is photography, I also like to play soccer and attempt to play guitar. Well I think that pretty much sums me up!