Mr. Quinby

You have by now selected eight essays from the website and carefully annotated each one.  Now, are there common strands that you find, a common theme that strikes you?  As you consider the larger picture, do you notice any patterns?  Your blog response is to again be two paragraphs.  In your second paragraph you may continue writing about the same theme or you may examine another one.  As you write I would like you to be working on applying some of the ideas from They Say I Say.  You may wish to experiment with a template or two since I'd like you to be making references to the essays you have read.  Remember though that the moves are more important than the templates.  I like to think of the template as being a little bit like Dumbo's magic feather, which he of course never really needed.  He could fly all along!  Okay maybe that's a bit of a stretch. Feel free to rate my postings. 

Earlier in the year we read an article from New Jersey Monthly entitled Stressed for Success in which the author explores the burdens of heavy homework loads on students.  She makes convincing arguments noting that family time and sleep are often being sacrificed.  Just to keep things interesting and provide a bit of contrast I'm including an excerpt from Amy Chua's book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom here for you too read.  In your first paragraph include your reactions to her bold statements on parenting.  Is she completely out of her mind?  Do you think she makes some valid points?  In your second paragraph I'd like you to use some of the language from the opening of Everything's an Argument.  What types of arguments are present in her writing?  Feel free to consider a combination of these: Arguments to inform, convince, explore, make decisions, meditate or pray.