Tuesday, June 7, 2011
"How to Fight a Duel," Adam Goodheart -- pg 403
Use this section to discuss "How to Fight a Duel" by Adam Goodheart. Those who come first can answer questions 1, 2, or 3 under "Thinking Critically" on pg 406. Otherwise, discuss the essay's strengths and weaknesses as you see them. What does Goodheart do well? What questions does he raise? What techniques can you take away from his essay for your own writing?
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Question #3 (Think Critically): According to paragraph 5 of "How to Fight a Duel, duels in the past were looked at for publicity and fame. Which is why duels would get cut short in the past since families would get involved. Its better to keep the duel discreet, especially from family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI liked how this essay grabs the reader's attention and makes a reader want to read more. Goodheart uses good vivid imagery and creates the essay in a chronological order, which draws the reader's attention. He also used a lot of examples on who was involved in the duel such as, Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickenson. There are some questions that come in my mind from reading "How to Fight a Duel," Why did politicians find dueling the most effective way to solve their problems? Also why are there so many rules involved in dueling? Some techniques that I would use from this particular essay are, the use of vivid imagery and how Goodheart used lots of examples.
-Trisha Chitkara
This Essay does a great job of drawing your attention. You don't get a drag on feeling and your senses are truly at work. I can actually picture the duels in my head. The only thing I would do differently is give the reader a favorite since its a duel.
ReplyDeleteAumid Sultan
How to fight a duel
ReplyDeleteThose days were harsh! Unlike the old days, we do have legal means to solve conflicts at present time, thus avoiding unnecessary loss of life. Life is too precious to be wasted by another being;that's why we have to try to solve our differences in a more cicilized manner. Most issues can be resolved by discussion insted of guns.
critical thinking
2)stupid,incapable,low-class
-What does Goodheart do well?
ReplyDeleteThe author really did an exceptional job at referencing famous examples of past duels on each steps. He must have research the history of duels because there names in the essay I have not heard or read about. The author is really good at adding humour in without making the essay informal. The essay is a lot like "Florida's FIre Ants Headed for Trouble" because of humour but this particular essay uses a sort of dry sense of humour. A reader must be quick to catch comical phrases and sentences and analogies.
-Ma. Cristina Martinez
I think the essay did a good job of using specific dates and examples. I also think it did a good job of walking through the process of dueling. a weakness is that it didn't paint a scene. overall i thought it was pretty good.
ReplyDelete-rey recinos
Goodheart opens his essay with an argument – “Tort reform is for wimps.” This phrase peaked my interest as a reader, wanting to know why he thought this way. The next sentence, he writes on to explain why with his own thoughts and a quote from the author of ‘The Art of Dueling’. I think this strengthens his thesis or argument, because if he had only used his own thoughts it would have been less convincing. Also, his use of dates and names of duelers from 18th and 19th century Europe gave the essay a more authentic touch. It made it feel like reading a real historical instruction guide to become a dueler. One thing however, is that I disliked was the length of each instruction. Instead of being short and concise, Goodheart used a paragraph or two for each step, which made my interest in them, drag along.
ReplyDelete-Dylan Reese
I actually commented on the content of the essay. The writer use steps to describe the actul scene, which i think is a great way for the audience to follow up. The first paragraph of the essay made really made me read the essay with fasination.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, one of the best things of this essay is the way it is organized. The organization of this essay is clear and complements with different details in each paragraph such examples of some duels in many countries and dates. At the same time, the separation by points answer many questions one by one since the concept, instruments, places, rules, people involved, etc.
ReplyDeleteOne question could be how the law took part in this challenge? How was the point of view of the society? Something really surprise me was the duel between women, so I would like to know more about it.
The first technique that I perceive is that Goodheart is neutral in his essay. This is a difficult theme that involves death, however, he is objective in this topic and he never says if he thinks duels are right or wrong. Another technique is that he describes the equipment give you an idea of the types and style of guns. Also, he describes the clothes that they used to wear in the challenge with specific details. For example he said “a dark frock coat without gilt buttons and with lapels to hide your white collar, since these make easy targets”.
Gissela Boza
I agree with gissela, Very well orginized. From the begining it had the materials you needed. I really think that it was humorous because wemon dueled as well. I just tought my girl friend how to shoot a gun and she shot a bulls eye the very first bullet out of the gun!! People back then had alot more heart then the people now because they hide behind the cops and getting away with things. So i wish they still had dueling. human life is precious, but i dont think people would take their own life for granted as much if they didnt walk around thinking that they are god!!! Idk i really just like shooting guns!!lol
ReplyDelete-Cole
The way he uses examples from all different time periods and different places shows u all the different ways of dueling and some of the crazy experiences that have happened during duels. The story does follow a very good order and step by step how to go about a duel. I think in my own process essay now I can see that it is a good idea to have a materials list in the beginning instead of just including them
ReplyDeletethroughout.
Todd B
Goodheart did a great job of giving examples for the duel steps. Should've commented earlier...everything I was thinking has been pretty much said, I did think it was very well organized. The steps really gave me a feel for what a duel was like, although I didn't really feel that there was a scene being painted.
ReplyDeleteHerbert Gallegos
The author does a great job of portraying the 18th and 19th centuries, the setting of story. The tale is well structured, it gives the reader an authentic feel, as if they're actually there. In addition, the author makes great use of processes analysis. He illustrates the events and steps with organization and simplicity. Furthermore, he provides the reader with various examples to insure that the reader understands.
ReplyDeleteAhmed A.