Elbow Reading Response

Before You Read

2. If I were able to use first person in my research papers I believe the paper would be more of my opinion and my argument would be stated clearer. But I do think that a third person paper is more authoritative than

a first person paper.

Summary

In Peter Elbow's "Voice in Writing Again: Embracing Contraries" he talks about using voice in writing. He compares using voice and not using it to find the advantages and disadvantages. He explains that there are times to use voice and times not to. For example you would try to use little voice in a scientific research report. But in most writings Elbow says to use voice and to not use voice. Voice is important in text because it determines the way the reader interprets it. It is important for students to know this, so it is important for their teachers to teach them where to use voice and where not to use it.

Synthesis

This reading discussed voice. Elbow explains when to use voice and when not to. His ideas are much like Kliene's article. Kliene tells us to find our specific voice and Elbow tells us when to use it. Both writers believe you should put yourself into your writing and connect with the audience.

Thoughts

I thought this article was very important. I benefited form this because it relates to my essay topic. I agree that it is very important to put voice into almost everything you write, one of the exceptions is instructions. I also agree that more people need to know where to put voice and where not to put it in an essay.

Questions

1. I define voice as your personality or view on the topic coming out through your writing. The different definitions I have heard in the past have been like a little bot of someones self is in their writing. Elbow's definition of voice is how the reader interprets the writing. It is the way they feel when they read it.

4. Elbow is playing his game. He tells both sides about voice being in papers because he believes both sides are valid in some way. The affect of this is that he doesn't come off very biased. He thinks its important to not resolve the tension because it is the writers choice and depends on what they are writing about and who they are writing to.

2. When you listen to a passage you take more in and understand it better. "Ear training" has affected my comprehension by helping me understand what I read. I think it should be used while reading more personal/opinion writing.

1. Yes, it does go along with Allen's myth. 

MM. Yes, I believe it is possible. Elbow wants us to use voice in certain parts of our works and to not use it in other parts of it.