The illusion of Safety/The safety of illusion by Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay presents clear arguments both for and against the use of trigger warnings, but her main point addresses something other than just those warnings. What does she want readers to know? Do you find her argument persuasive? Why or why not?
Gay’s essay is sprinkled with short, terse sentences (“I hate writing” [18].) and occasionally even fragments (“But” [36].) Find three more examples of such terse bits. What is the effect of these occasional breaks in the rhythmic flow of her prose? What do they accomplish? Are they effective? Why or why not?
Although she never offers a direct narrative of any of her experiences, Gay makes it clear that she speaks from personal experience of violence. How does she make her experience clear without narrating what happened? How effective is her technique? Would a narrative have conveyed more effectively the argument she is making about trigger warnings? Why or why not? Explain your conclusion.
Gay states very explicitly: “I don’t believe in trigger warnings” (23). Still, at several points throughout her essay she concedes that trigger warnings can be useful, even “necessary” (32). Do her concessions about the value of trigger warnings weaken her argument? Strengthen it? Why do you think so? Explain your reasoning and point to specific passages that support your evaluation.
Gay’s style of personal reflection and disclosure almost invites readers to respond, to enter a conversation with her. Imagine sitting next to her on a plane or sharing a table with her at the school cafeteria. What would you like to as her or tell her? Imagine your conversation. Write a two-paragraph reflection that responds to her as though she were at your side listening.
“The internet is not ruining Grammar “by Jessica Wildfire
Jessica Wildfire boldly asserts “Let language play” (14). What does she mean by that? Who is the audience she is trying to persuade? Why Do you agree? Why or why not?
According to Wildfire, periods in text messages are used differently than periods in longer prose. In texts, she notes, a period indicates anger. Do you agree with her assessment? Why or why not? How do you read a period in a text message? What factors might influence your interpretation (length of the message, how well you know the sender, etc.)? Why?
We don’t actually know who Wildfire is—not her real name or where she teaches, her academic background, or anything other than the cryptic phrases she uses in her online bios. We take it on faith that the accompanying image truly depicts the author. Does the lack of concrete information interfere with her ability to speak with authority on the topic of grammar rules and grammar learning? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
Regardless of where or how you were previously schooled, by the time you’ve reached the writing class you’re taking now, you have surely encountered some rules of English grammar. Wildfire advocates eliminating the explicit teaching of grammar, arguing that such instruction simply isn’t effective and that students will learn grammar rules naturally, “by living them” (15). Do you agree? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.
As Wildfire notes, people who use their phones a lot for written communications “are developing their own usage conventions” (25). What usage conventions are you developing? Probably you are conscious of some of them, while others are more automatic and unnoticed. Look over your texts, tweets, and other online communications, and spend a day or two paying attention to what conventions you use in each communication and what your reasons are in that specific moment. Then write a brief personal usage guide similar to what you might find in a handbook or style guide. Include punctuation, capitalization, spelling, abbreviations, emoji use, and any other factors you consider relevant.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|