Elbow

Getting Ready to Read

I construct an identity by using my Facebook profile by providing information, ideas, and pictures.  Facebook is a place for me to post things about myself as well as things that interest me. I can also comment and like things of m peers. By doing this, I create a profile of myself. Anyone can go on my Facebook profile and see he hings that I have done and posted. The things that I chose to post and chose not to post say things about who I am both online and offline. If I do not like something, or do not want to share something, I will no post it. Also, I will only post things that are truly me and me being myself. The profile I am online is the same as my own identity at home.

Summary

In Peter Elbow's "Voice in Writing Again: Embracing Contraries" the topic of using our voice when we write is discussed. With other teachers as the audience, Elbow tries to show us the importance of having voices be heard in writings. "When readers hear a voice in a piece of writing, they are more often drawn to read it" (pg. 52) Elbow argues that voice should be used in writings, and she also discussed the reasons why others disagree with this idea. 

Synthesis

Peter Elbow's article can be compared to Kleine's article because both articles are written for teacher audiences. Both of these articles are showing beliefs of tips that will help teachers understand why students do some of the writing habits that they do. In Elbow's article, he tells the readers that students want to hear a voice in readings. In Kleine's article, he tells he reader how students conduct research. Both articles were informative, but I enjoyed Elbow's more. 

Questions for Discussion

1. I define voice as the tone or feel I have when reading something. In the past, I have encountered different definitions of the word voice. I have heard voice be used as a sound you use to speak as well as a way to express yourself. These definitions differ from Elbow's definition, because in Elbow's definition, voice is a tone and feel that I reader gets when reading a piece of writing.   
4. In Elbow's strategy of arguing, he is playing his "doubting and believing game." When he argues, he gives full airing to both sides of the debate. Elbow can both argue why using voice is a good thing but can also sometimes be a bad thing. He thinks it is not important to completely resolve the tension because it should be left unsolved. He believes that every reader and writer should have the choice to include voice or not.

Applying and Exploring Ideas

2. When you listen to a passage, you get to hear someone's voice tell you the story. The passage seems to come to life and it is easier to follow along and understand. Reading it silently is also good, but you have to ind the voice of the passage on your own. "Ear-training" has helped me with things in the past because I have gotten used to the way hat certain materials should sound. This helps me understand passages more easier. From this, I believe that it is a tool that you should use very often. It should be used whenever you are having trouble getting trough a reading.

Connecting to Other Readings

2. After reading both Allen and Elbow's articles, I believe that voice is a way out of the influence of the haunting ghost. I do not think that Allen fought against the theory of voice, but would agree with it helping students get connected to their readings. Fining the voice is a very important step in reading and understanding a writing piece.

Meta Moment

In my own writing, I try to find the voice, but also focus on the detail and specifics in the writing. Although this is sometimes hard to do, it is possible. When I am fist setting up my writing, I try to give it a voice. But when I am revising and editing my writing, I am no as concerned with the voice, but more concerned with the actual material.

Thoughts

Elbow's article was very interesting because I have never read anything that discussed the importance of voice. I liked reading this because as a writer, I often try to include my voice into my work. I also liked that Elbow mentioned how students like it when there is a voice in the writing.