Chapter 7 They Say I Say

Chapter seven starts out asking a very good and obvious question. To be perfectly honest I have never sat down and asked myself this question before writing but after reading this chapter I will most likely be asking myself this from now on. The question is, “Who Cares?” Even if someone writes a perfectly clear, well focused thesis if the writer does not sufficiently address and answer crucial questions throughout the text the reader might be left with unanswered questions and not sure what they even got out of the text. When you are writing and trying to argue a position it is best to reflect on the central point of your argument so it is clear and easy to follow. That way it gives the reader a reason for reading it. I also learned while reading this chapter that sometimes it helps to mention specific people’s names or groups to help support your argument and authority as a writer. I think this chapter brings up many valid and somewhat obvious suggestions that I believe most writers do not address but if they did it would sometimes makes their text a lot more relatable to their audience.

Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 16

One of the most interesting yet obvious elements pointed out in chapter sixteen is when Pollan writes about America’s National Eating Disorder. In this section he says, “America has never had a stable national cuisine; each immigrant population has brought its own food-ways to the American table, but none has ever been powerful enough to hold the national diet very steady.” (pg. 299) This quote points out something I feel to be obvious but puts the truth in a clear perspective. One of the major problems America faces in our food industry and eating habits is there is no consistency. Foods are like fads in the American culture and this is both a negative and positive issue. When foods eaten for healthy diets become the new fad people become obsessed and are on a health kick, which is an example of food fads in America being a good thing but just as easily as it can be something very contradictory. When diets like eating Mexican or Greek food catch on this puts our society in a downward spiral in terms of negative food habits. It takes very little for these fads to be set in motion. The problem is this issue cannot be easily controlled therefore; the American diet is faced with a tremendous struggle when trying to maintain healthy eating.

They Say I Say chapter 6

After reading chapter six “Skeptics May Object” I believe a key point made in this chapter is “once you see writing as an act of entering a conversation, you should also see how opposing arguments can work for you rather than against you.” I interpreted this as being a tactic that people in court use. While making their case they try and keep what the other side might say or ask the witness in response to what has already been said in mind. I do believe that in life and in my writing it is important to consider all points of view. Therefore I don’t come off close-minded or like a “know it all.”
I do find it helpful to listen to what other people have to say about my writing as long as it is constructive and it will help me to improve my piece. I have come across moments where someone who is objecting to my writing isn’t doing it in a critical way but rather they are just saying what they feel and what they feel is the only right answer. By readying this chapter I understand better how to make an argument convincing but not over baring.

Chapter 4 They Say I Say

In chapter four of They Say I Say it discusses three ways to respond in your writing. Whether to agree, disagree or both and in doing so how to make your point/ argument clear. While reading this chapter I found it very informative in regards to an interpretive response or analytical response. I learned that although an interpretive response does not take the most direct approach in making an obvious point to agree or disagree, it is more effective if while making an interpretive response is if the author takes a stand. Whether it is by pointing something new out or responding to what someone else has already pointed out.
This chapter also began by informing people that when writing a response where you have to agree, disagree or both it is important to clearly and obviously declare your position. I understand that to be essential but I wasn’t sure how to do that when writing a response where you both disagree and agree. I feel like by both disagreeing and agreeing it makes your argument complicated which is hypocritical to what the beginning of the chapter said. I learned that to make your point clear, if you decide to both agree and disagree, you should put more stress on one opinion in order to make what you’re arguing clear or make your argument obvious by saying something like, “I agree with this…., but do not agree with….” That way you are still able to get your point across while keeping your argument complex.