Applying and Exploring Ideas

Applying and Exploring Ideas

1.

Question 4.4

Look at the conventions that Díaz uses in writing this piece. What tone does he use? What organizational strategies does he employ? What sorts of language and turn of phrase does he use? For whom was he writing, and how can you tell?

2.

Question 4.5

Once you have considered the above questions (which are really asking you to conduct a brief rhetorical analysis), imitate Díaz and write two pages describing a time when you struggled with writing and how you responded.

Meta Moment

Question 4.6

What have you learned from Díaz about what makes good writers good? How can thinking about good writers in this way encourage you as a writer?