Grant and Lee

Understanding Context:
The most striking difference between these two generals, according to Catton, seems to be their background. This seems to be a recurring contrast by the author. They each had vefy different upbringings, but each seemed to be perfect for the army they would eventually lead.

Evaluating Strategy:
He begins his essay by contrasting the two, he seems to spend the majority of the time focusing on their differences. He then brings the essay in by comparing their similarities and discussing their meeting at Appomattox.

Appreciating Language:
I seemed to find Catton a bit biased in support of Grant. He spends very little time discussing good qualities gained from Lee's background. He seems to think Grant the stronger of the two personalities due to his rough upbringing and hard work. I get the distinct impression that he viewed Lee as a much softer, more aristocratic figure. Aristocratic in a derogatory manner.

Chinese Space, American Space

Understanding Context:
The author looks at the difference between "space" and "place" in a very cultural way. Space is a very American way of looking at everything. We're always searching for more, looking to be better. We have to have the biggest house with the biggest yard... the most space.Our greatest ambition is fame and to be as much as we can possibly become, to go as far as is possible.We're constantly looking to the future. Chinese on the other hand, love tradition. They are very content with "place". The author talks about how due to so many wars and natural disasters, place is a big deal. They care about their small yards and their sense of security they get from that.Their social standing also gives them a sense of place. From the author's words, the reader gets the sense that the Chinese don't care to change their social status.

Evaluating Strategy:
The author seems to spend very little time describing Americans view of space, perhaps this is because of the general understanding by most people that Americans have a lot of motivation and drive. They're are willing to do what it takes to get what they want, and their dreams are generally boundless in this country of opportunity.

Appreciating Language:
The word rootlessness could come across to some people as having a negative connotation, however, the way she uses the comparison lets the reader realize HER actual definition of the word. She uses it in the sense that America is a young, ambitious country, not tied down or "rooted" down by years and years of tradition like China is. China is a very old, very traditional country.

Leaves

K, so maybe I'm just an abnormally big nerd, but I love the leaves in the fall. They are possibly my favorite thing. I love running and jumping through them. Fall is my favorite season. Everything is so colorful and awesome. The air is so incredibly crisp and clean... and I have many a good memory that happened in the fall. Cross-country running season was always in the fall, and at about this time i would normally be preparing to run state. *sigh, oh well. Plus, Halloween is in the fall... and I love halloween. I love to creep myself out and get spooked! Such a good time... The other night I watched a Sundance film called Session 9 with some friends, not necessarily a horror in the sense that there's blood everywhere all the time, but it's one of those that gets in your head. You just can't seem to stop thinking about it and analyzing it. And everything actually fits together in it, and the more you realize from it and notice about it, the creepier it is. An excellent movie that I would recommend during this season. muah ha ha!!!

definition essay

Wow, I'm sure glad I read that sundance writer web site on the definition paper. I'm completely serious when I say that too, cuz I'm pretty sure I would have done it completely wrong. I was thinking that once again, this essay would ultimately be telling a story, when in reality, all it does is define. It's setting up a clear example of what the definition is and attempting either to inform or persuade the reader. Yeah, I would have messed myself up pretty bad in my first draft had I not read that web site first. THANK YOU!

chapters 8-9

chapter 8
1) _________ is an effective prewriting strategy that can keep your ideas organized.
a) brainstorming
b) outline
c) sleeping
d) none of the above

2) One of the most important things to consider in writing an effective title for your essay is
a) simply labeling the paper
b) writing a strong title that attracts attention, introduces thesis, and helps focus the essay
c) whether your paper deserves a title
d) all of the above

3) Titles can
a) decorate your paper nicely
b) help the writer kill time while in writer's block
c) state or summarize the writer's thesis

4) Introductions should
a) arouse attention, state your point, and prepare reader's for what follows
b) bore the reader into a state of mental paralysis
c) be a tangent, completely irrelevant to your essay to throw the reader's off of your actual point

Chapter 9

1)