Descriptive Writing Assignment
Using Ann Hodgman’s essay as a model, write a detailed description of a recent meal that you ate. Your focus should be on describing as many aspects of your food as you can.
Important Elements: Concrete/Abstract Images
Multi-Sensory Images Simile, Metaphor, Analogy
Dominant Impression
I reached for a vanilla cupcake with glistening strawberry icing. They were freshly baked and the strawberry aroma filled the room. The scents of vanilla and strawberry danced in the air and drew me toward each edible rose colored jewel. I took the soft and moist cake in my hand. It still gave off heat from the oven. It was like holding a comforting, delicious pillow between my index finger and thumb. The icing was a bit melted and was somewhat shiny in the light. I took a bite and the smooth berry icing stuck to my teeth. The spongy cake was warm and comforting like a blanket covering my taste buds. The flavors united once again in a beautiful reunion of creamy strawberry and mouthwatering vanilla. Each bite was unadulterated bliss.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Hodgman - Journal #3
“No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch” – Ann Hodgman
(The Norton Sampler p.77)
Read the selection and write a one paragraph response to the following questions.
1. Cite three specific examples of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery that you find to be particularly effective.
“Next I tried a piece of red extrusion. The main difference between the meat-flavored and cheese-flavored extrusions is one of texture. The “cheese” chews like fresh Play-Doh, whereas the “meat” chews like Play-Dog that’s been sitting out on a rug for a couple of hours.” Pg 78
“There were chunks in the can, certainly-big purplish-brown chunks. I forked one chunk out (by now I was becoming more callous) and found that while it had no discernible chicken flavor, it wasn’t bad except for its texture-like meat loaf with ground-up chicken bones.” Pg 79
“The meat was dark, dark brown, and it was surrounded by gelatin that was almost black.” Pg 81
2. What do you think Hodgman’s purpose was in writing this essay? What overall message/meaning do you take from the essay?
Hodgeman’s purpose of writing this essay was to mainly say that dog food is gross and the labels lie about the ingredients. She mainly uses negative adjectives to describe the consistency, taste, and smell of the dog food. She never describes the food in a genuinely positive way. Basically, she is describing the food so it does not sound appetizing.
The other purpose of the essay could be that childhood expectations and curiosities are blind to the truth. Hodgman was saying that she wanted to try dog food since she was a child. But, now she actually fulfilled her childhood fascination, and it didn’t live up to the expectations she had once had.
Lack of truth in advertizing. They market the food, like they are marketing to us.
Pokes fun at food critics.
(The Norton Sampler p.77)
Read the selection and write a one paragraph response to the following questions.
1. Cite three specific examples of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery that you find to be particularly effective.
“Next I tried a piece of red extrusion. The main difference between the meat-flavored and cheese-flavored extrusions is one of texture. The “cheese” chews like fresh Play-Doh, whereas the “meat” chews like Play-Dog that’s been sitting out on a rug for a couple of hours.” Pg 78
“There were chunks in the can, certainly-big purplish-brown chunks. I forked one chunk out (by now I was becoming more callous) and found that while it had no discernible chicken flavor, it wasn’t bad except for its texture-like meat loaf with ground-up chicken bones.” Pg 79
“The meat was dark, dark brown, and it was surrounded by gelatin that was almost black.” Pg 81
2. What do you think Hodgman’s purpose was in writing this essay? What overall message/meaning do you take from the essay?
Hodgeman’s purpose of writing this essay was to mainly say that dog food is gross and the labels lie about the ingredients. She mainly uses negative adjectives to describe the consistency, taste, and smell of the dog food. She never describes the food in a genuinely positive way. Basically, she is describing the food so it does not sound appetizing.
The other purpose of the essay could be that childhood expectations and curiosities are blind to the truth. Hodgman was saying that she wanted to try dog food since she was a child. But, now she actually fulfilled her childhood fascination, and it didn’t live up to the expectations she had once had.
Lack of truth in advertizing. They market the food, like they are marketing to us.
Pokes fun at food critics.
Dillard - Journal #2
1. How are the moths in the essay’s opening different from the moth at the campsite? What do the different moths represent?
The moth in the opening is different from the one at the campsite because that moth didn’t “pursue its dreams”. It just died without following its fire, or passion. The moth at the campsite pursued the fire and died for its passion.
2. What lesson does the moth provide that Dillard takes back to her students?
The lesson that the moth provides is that we should die for out fire, which is our passion. We should want to do anything for it. We shouldn’t be like the first moth that died by living a comfortable life and not going to the fire.
3. How many references are there to fire in the essay? What’s the larger significance of fire in the essay?
There are 11 references to fire. The later significance for fire is someone’s passion and what they love to do.
4. Address how each of the following quotes connect to Dillard’s overall point.
a. “I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.”
-Jack London
He says that he would rather be ashes than dust. In the essay, she was contrasting the moth that died and turned to dust to the moth that pursued the fire and turned to ashes. He talks about burning instead of dying a regular death, like the moths.
b. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
-William Butler Yeats
This quote used fire as a metaphor. The essay also frequently used fire to symbolize something deeper. In this quote, fire is a passionate word.
c. “A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.”
-Franz Kafka
The essay also uses an ax as a symbol. The quote is saying that a book should open our soul and release our passion from within. In the essay, Dillard says that we should take life with a broadax. She means that we should go at life with a passion and be willing to die for what we love.
The moth in the opening is different from the one at the campsite because that moth didn’t “pursue its dreams”. It just died without following its fire, or passion. The moth at the campsite pursued the fire and died for its passion.
2. What lesson does the moth provide that Dillard takes back to her students?
The lesson that the moth provides is that we should die for out fire, which is our passion. We should want to do anything for it. We shouldn’t be like the first moth that died by living a comfortable life and not going to the fire.
3. How many references are there to fire in the essay? What’s the larger significance of fire in the essay?
There are 11 references to fire. The later significance for fire is someone’s passion and what they love to do.
4. Address how each of the following quotes connect to Dillard’s overall point.
a. “I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.”
-Jack London
He says that he would rather be ashes than dust. In the essay, she was contrasting the moth that died and turned to dust to the moth that pursued the fire and turned to ashes. He talks about burning instead of dying a regular death, like the moths.
b. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
-William Butler Yeats
This quote used fire as a metaphor. The essay also frequently used fire to symbolize something deeper. In this quote, fire is a passionate word.
c. “A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.”
-Franz Kafka
The essay also uses an ax as a symbol. The quote is saying that a book should open our soul and release our passion from within. In the essay, Dillard says that we should take life with a broadax. She means that we should go at life with a passion and be willing to die for what we love.
The Last Cowboy - Journal #1
He propped himself against a wire trashcan, observing each passersby under the brim of his hat. He was surrounded by dry planes of asphalt and his Dodge was his stallion. Paper tumble weeds caressed his boots as they rolled along the gutter. The streetlamps stood tall like green cacti. The last cowboy whiffed the air, and was rudely awoken not by the smell of flora and fauna, but the smell of subway and sweltering blacktop. He was far from the rural land he’d grow accustomed.
The last cowboy was on a search for the lush and alive land he dearly missed. This urban metropolis is not what he found striking. These skyscrapers couldn’t compare to the rolling hills and canyon walls of the west. Even though the city was filled with many people, it still seemed lifeless when compared to the very much alive and active grassland. He sauntered down the gray sidewalk, herding the bovine citizens north. The only vegetation in sight was the few weeds reaching toward the sky, pleading for sustenance. The last cowboy continued on, under the gray sky, herding and sowing the grime with the tips of his boots.
A familiar smell came from up ahead. The cowboy felt anxious and was extremely curious to find the source of this familiar smell. The smell sent him into a wave of nostalgia and longing. Did he smell pit beef? Or could it be cows? What about leather? Further on, he perceived a neon sign. He focused his gaze, and read the one word that could make any westerner ecstatic. He positioned his hands on his belt buckle and mouthed the word: “Rodeo. “
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