Notaro

• Does the writer provide an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention? Yes, it's inviting and automatically starts introducing Pop Pop as a man that's becoming sickly and has "his ways" much like my grandparents.

• Does the writer focus on significant events in his or her life rather than trying to narrate his or her entire life’s story? This author is great! I follow her clearly and don't have to go back and read the essay multiple times to get a grasp of what she is talking about. She includes the perfect amount of necessary information and not too much of her own life.

• Do the descriptions of the characters or important objects in the memoirs include sensory details that help readers to visualize, hear, smell or feel them? Yes, you can visualize when she goes to the grocery store with Pop Pop and everybody disappears because of his abrasive nature. Reminds me of my Dad and Granny.

• Has the writer quoted speech or dialogue so as to reveal some important aspect of a character’s personality? Yes, she's trying to be patient with her Pop Pop, but at the same time laughing at his choices ( I do this with my Granny alllll the time).

• Does the writer narrate or describe events in a way that allows readers to connect them to experiences or relationships in their own lives? OH YES!

• Has the writer explained the significance of the people, events, places, or objects in shaping who he or she has become? Does this explanation make sense in relation to the events, people, places, and things described throughout the memoir? Yes, the story is about how her Nana and Pop Pop are set in their ways, but still onry enough that they do what they want anyway. She tries to mediate, but it just doesn't work.

• Does the writer provide a conclusion that reinforces the point of the story? Haha yes, Pop Pop is going to do whatever the heck he wants even if he almost gets ran over by a car.

E.B. White

• Does the writer provide an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention? Yes, it shows humor and makes you think of the "good ole times" when you were a kid yourself.

• Does the writer focus on significant events in his or her life rather than trying to narrate his or her entire life’s story? There are significant events, but he does mention parts of his life story that only he will be able to relate to and appreciate.

• Do the descriptions of the characters or important objects in the memoirs include sensory details that help readers to visualize, hear, smell or feel them? Yes, his description of going to the lake and eating at the farmhouse reminds me of when I was younger and would go out to Grandpa's farm. You could almost taste the cooking, hear the sweet sounds, and not have a care in the world.

• Has the writer quoted speech or dialogue so as to reveal some important aspect of a character’s personality?  His dialogue seems very peaceful and refreshed to be on his old stomping grounds with his boy.

• Does the writer narrate or describe events in a way that allows readers to connect them to experiences or relationships in their own lives? Yes, very much so.

• Has the writer explained the significance of the people, events, places, or objects in shaping who he or she has become? Does this explanation make sense in relation to the events, people, places, and things described throughout the memoir? Yes, he talks about the outboards, fishing, etc. He's talking about how they've changed since, but now he gets to experience them with his son.

• Does the writer provide a conclusion that reinforces the point of the story? To me no, but to others maybe. His boy was enjoying the lake as he did when he was young is the point he might've been trying to imply, but clarity was lacking.

Personal Narratives

Diving into Personal Narratives - Sedaris

Read David Sedaris's "Me Talk Pretty One day," on pg. 285 in your yellow Seagull Reader book.

Now, write a blog post where you investigate the following questions.

• Does the writer provide an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention? YES
• Does the writer focus on significant events in his or her life rather than trying to narrate his or her entire life’s story? YES
• Do the descriptions of the characters or important objects in the memoirs include sensory details that help readers to visualize, hear, smell or feel them? YES
• Has the writer quoted speech or dialogue so as to reveal some important aspect of a character’s personality? I'M NOT SURE
• Does the writer narrate or describe events in a way that allows readers to connect them to experiences or relationships in their own lives? YES
• Has the writer explained the significance of the people, events, places, or objects in shaping who he or she has become? Does this explanation make sense in relation to the events, people, places, and things described throughout the memoir? ABSOLUTELY
• Does the writer provide a conclusion that reinforces the point of the story? YES

Elements of Style

My weakness in writing is my lack of a direct approach in that sometimes I don't get right to the point or that I'm not concise enough. I usually have to re-write sentences over and over for it to tie into the paper just right. I have an idea of what I want to write, but it just doesn't come together right away. Reading the paragraph aloud might help or even setting the work aside for a little bit and then coming back to it.

On the contrary, my strengths are writing research papers in APA style because I've done many of them and I know what is expected. How well I write in MLA format is subjective to the instructor.

Sentence Variety

Sam got in her car and drove to the mall. There, she went to the shoe store where she bought a pair of boots and a shoeshine kit. She moved on to the food court where she bought and ate a burrito that had onions and peppers on it. While eating, she saw a cute boy at the pretzel stand. The boy saw her and Sam blushed as he walked over to her. She said hi and all of a sudden the boy wrinkled up his nose. She confusingly said hi again as the boy gagged and walked away. Sam shockingly realized that the she had breath. She ran to the bathroom and cried. Regaining her confidence, she shined and put on her new boots. She walked out of the bathroom and found the boy and told him that he needed manners as she kicked him with her new boots. The boy fell to the ground as Sam walked away and left the mall.