I Am a Teacher "It's commonly called "the penis" and it has a long, methodical story"
I really liked this opening. Using penis in the opening sentence is a very bold move but I think it's very effective in grabbing the attention of the reader. It took me a second to get passed as I was taken aback by the opening line but I wanted to find out more about why it was there. The whole essay was very light hearted and a fun read and I think the casual opening set a good tone for the rest of the paper.
A Guy Named Kyle "...he's not really Mexican; he just looks like it..." Kyle explains.
I laughed at this line and really thought it added to the paper. This is exactly something I would say or something my brother would say so I found it very funny. I like the relaxed tone of when Kyle talks and the author really gets that feeling across. There are effective sections of dialogue that set the tone of the paper really well and that's crucial when writing a profile essay. A Guy Named Kyle is simple tells a good story and creates a nice tone.
I Am a Teacher
Question: Did Mr. Eakin mind that he wasn't making very much money after a few years of teaching?
I Am A Teacher: “On-and-off describes much of his life: he went in and out of college, in and out of teaching, and in and out of what he will only describe as “less respectable lifestyles’” (6). After having Mr. Hackman, I can agree that on-and-off might seem like a good description, but I think this sentence and idea is very vague. The author should go into more detail about how his school was on and off, the circumstances around him going into and out of teaching, and what those lifestyles are, so we get a better picture of Mr. Hackman growing up and figuring himself out, rather than just a snapshot of one of his classes.
A Guy Named Kyle: “Wearing a red sweatshirt, worn jeans, and dirt caked sneakers, he looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body but stopped mentally maturing at 17” (1). I think this is a very good description with which to begin the essay. It allowed me to picture a young man who has aged with hard work and cigarettes. I think it may have been better to reword it, though, so that it does not imply that he looks like he stopped mentally maturing at 17, since she already said he looks like a 40-year-old.
The Man From Mahwah: What is the significance of robbing a bank with George Lahey? It seems like some inside joke that the reader knows nothing about and doesn’t seem to fit into the essay.
The Man from Mahwah "Loose jaw! All Right, settle down, settle. 500 to go! Good, Georgia! All right, Bridgette! Good, Beth!" I really liked the authors use of dialogue in this essay, I think it added to the experience that the author had while running with Mr. Eakin. Along the same lines, I like how the author talked throughout the essay as if he was interviewing Mr. Eakin in front of us, and even includes an interruption in their conversation in the essay
I Am A Teacher- "It's commonly called 'the penis' and it has a long, methodical story." I really didn't like this intro. Although I do think that a bold start to the essay could intrigue the reader, the author fails to explain himself for the use of the word "penis" until the very end of the second paragraph. I felt as though I was listening to someones inside joke and didn't get it, and it didn't hook me at all.
Question: What was the significance of "the penis" in I Am A Teacher? It opens the essay and then talks about how it goes away but Hackman didn't really care?
A guy named Kyle: "Once I got to know him over the course of the week, I realized that you can't tell a book by its cover, and so did he. After almost a week, we exchanged first impressions and then laughed it off. "I thought Miss Priss, when I first saw you when I first saw you," he told me, "but I gave you and all the others a chance before I let my judgements get in the way"
I really like this part of the essay because it kind of starts the whole idea of how it may have been hard for these two people to get to know each other. I find the whole essay interesting and a topic that seems to stand out from the other profile essays that I have read.
The Man from Mahwah "Someone may pass you that you weren't expecting. Maybe a hill will hurt more than you think. Don't worry about it. You're gonna have some moments of doubt. When that happens, just think, fingertips, loose jaw. Run through it. It will pass."
I feel that I can relate to this part of the essay because when I do fencing, I never know what's going to happen, who I will have to fence, if I have a good day or bad day and how much I may doubt myself. Any sport is hard and I feel that every athlete can relate to this paragraph.
In "I Am A Teacher", why does the writer put a poem at the end?
"One day a student, for no known reason, brought in a large turbine wheel. Another student placed a decorative plant in the middle" - I Am A Teacher
I particularly enjoyed reading about this because I took a Philosophy class with Mr. Hackman and was excited to read about the turbine's origin. At this point in the essay, I guessed that it was a paper about Mr. Hackman, but for many other readers they would not have known. This really grabbed my attention and made it more enjoyable to read the rest of the paper.
"He looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body, but stopped mentally maturing at 17." - A Guy Named Kyle
I really liked this part of the paper. I think it gives a funny, metaphorical description of the person they're writing about. I think it shows a lot of character of not only Kyle, but also the author himself. You get the sense that he knows him well and is on good enough terms to make somewhat of a joke about him.
Question: I'm very curious about who wrote the "I Am A Teacher" paper. I wonder if Mr. Hackman ever read it, because if he hasn't, I think he would really enjoy it.
Quote from “I am a Teacher:” “Hackman thrives on the randomness of life; he finds great humor in the little quirky moments of day to day life.” I thought that this statement is very true. I had Mr. Hackman for comp 2 and as I read this essay I recalled more and more memories and stories. Just from reading the first two sentences I knew who this essay was about. I also liked how Mr. Hackman was described at the bottom of page 3 (stereotypical English professor and New Englander).
Quote from “A Guy Named Kyle:” “After that I comment on his fun ‘toys’ like the ATV, chain saws, jack hammers, and gun collection that he gave me a tour of the last time I visited.” It was funny to see my name in the essay. I was skimming that section and my eyes caught “Andrea” and I was like “oh, that’s me!” (but not really). I also liked this quote because it gives a good picture of Kyle and what he likes to do. I really want to ATV – not sure if that is a verb – and I shoot, so I kind of connected with that.
Question from “The Man from Mahwah:” I am confused about who this is about. Is it Profe of some other Mr. Eakin? If it is Profe nothing makes sense except for the track coach part...
1. The Man from Mahwah: "I wouldn't change anything. I've tried to change my life before. No matter what, it always comes back to teaching."-So the title of this essay is "The Man from Mahwah" and it opens with a sentence of Mr. Eakin being reminded of Mahwah. However, I don't think that is how the essay should have been titled nor do I think it should have opened that way. The whole point about the essay is how Mr. Eakin is great teacher reenforced by the scene where the girl snaps her pencil when she thinks he is retiring. The main focus of teaching should have been established in the title and the opening paragraph.
2. I Am A Teacher: "He told me once that every year he rotated it ninety degrees because, to be honest, he didn't know which way was right side up." Lines like these through out the essay do a great job at describing Mr. Hackman's character. I had him as a teacher last year and this easy had me chuckling. The stories are funny and separate Mr. Hackman from the average teacher, even the average person.
3. A Guy Named Kyle: Does the author work for Kyle or are they just friends?
"'Shiiiaaaat' is the first word that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey." I really liked this opening because out of all three essays, it is the one that grabbed my attention enough to make me want to read "A Guy Named Kyle" first. I think the opening line was also represented the tone and content of the rest of the essay really accurately. The writer kept the audience s/he attracted.
"Despite his half-joking tone, however, each adjective strikes a memory for me…. the kind look in his eyes quelling the tears threatening to spill.." I really liked the description and use of vocabulary in "The Man from Mahwah" because I feel like it enhanced the piece without making it feel over-worked. The description in this essay like when the writer was describing Mr. Eakin's "kelly green desk chair" made the setting and events easy to visualize.
In I Am A Teacher the writer interprets something by saying "which I assume means" - How formal are these essays supposed to be?
"'Always expect the unexpected,' he tells us smugly as we labor through the second set of cones". I like this paragraph because the saying "always expect the unexpected" has a very true meaning to it. It says at one point that there will be a moment of doubt, but going back to the quote you know it's just something you have to push through.
A Guy Named Kyle
"'Shiiiaaat' is the first sound that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey". This is a perfect opening sentence because not only does it start with a catching word, but it makes you began to think: who is Kyle Willey?
I Am A Teacher
"It's commonly called "the penis" and it has a long, methodical story". Just like in "A Guy Named Kyle", the introduction to this story is perfect. I read the first sentence aloud next to someone and their attention was caught very quickly, and that is what you are looking for.
Did it make the essay "I Am A Teacher" stronger by placing poems in it?
I Am A Teacher – “It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story. This is a brilliant opening. I found myself reading on just to find out what this person was talking about. You get taken a bit aback when you read the first line but the when you get over than you can’t help but crack a smile at that line. This line is immediately followed by a small narrative. The little narrative is entertaining and funny and a good piece to start off with. The story just sounds like one of Mr. Hackman’s story and because of that it accomplishes its goal. A Guy Named Kyle - “Wearing a red sweatshirt, worn jeans, and dirt caked sneakers, he looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body, but stopped mentally maturing at 17." I really liked this line. It gives you such a good image of what Kyle looks like and what his personality is like. You are able to draw this mental picture of him and start piecing together what he is like. It also has an element of humor to it that’s fun to read. The Man from Mahwah – On the bottom of the back of the first page and the top of the second, how bad were his money troubles? It seems like a severity would help clear that up.
The Man from Mahwah -“ ‘Always expect the unexpected,’ … ‘Those second cones were unexpected. There are gonna be some surprises Saturday…Don’t worry about it…When it happens, just think, fingertips, loose jaw. Run through it. It will pass. ” I really liked this paragraph. It really brought me to the practice, and made me feel like I was his runner. It was a good example of his talent as a coach.
I Am A Teacher – “It’s commonly called ‘the penis’ and it has a long, methodical story.” I think this is a great opener. You don’t often read the word “penis” in school essays. It catches you off guard in a good way.
Could the author talk more about the church-rebuilding trip? Since that is where he first met him, it seems like it could be important to both the author and the subject.
From “The Man from Mahwah” - "'I'm direct, honest,' he answers slowly when I ask him to describe himself. ‘Empathetic, believe it or not.’ He chuckled wickedly as one of the seniors in the classroom snorts.” - I really like the way this was put together, broken apart between his words to sneak in the question that was posed. At the end it even shows a little sense of humor and his relationship with students. It’s clear to me that he seems like a pretty likeable guy, laughing along with students and all.
I like how in “I Am A Teacher” there is a really catchy intro but also that there is so much description, you get a feel for the style, likes and dislikes of the Mr. Steve Hackman. I would have liked more of an interview, I didn’t really hear anything about what his life outside of school was, he just seemed like the teacher that doesn’t have one, maybe he is, but im sure he isn’t. #breakingbad? ;)
I LOVE THE INTRO to “A guy named Kyle. It’s just. I love it. Question though, I guess I just want to know more about the teacher in, like outside life from “I Am A Teacher” as previously stated above.
"It's commonly called "the penis" and it has a long, methodical story"... this is a great interest catcher.
"Despite his half-joking tone, however, each adjective strikes a memory for me…. the kind look in his eyes quelling the tears threatening to spill..".... This is really good detail and really helps convey emotion to the reader.
Why doesn't the author of "A Guy Named Kyle" talk more about the background of how they got to know this man?
“...crossing his long legs and looking thoughtfully towards the ceiling, yogurt in hand.” It might not seem noticeable to any who have not actually met Mr. Cochran, but after having a year of french in his class, this paper can completely envelope his identity. I can imagine him saying the words, I can imagine him nodded, searching his pockets, asking questions to himself out loud. All these little quirks that I and undoubtedly many other look over when talking to him in person. And by putting them in this paper, it makes it even easier to really get an image of him sitting there, thinking, and just eating some yogurt.
I Am A Teacher
“It’s commonly called ‘the penis’ and it has a long, methodical story.” Was the ‘long’ really necessary, and here I thought I was the king of the innuendo, but noo, this person just had to go and stick penis all throughout their front page, but hey I guess it worked, because I read the whole thing. But seriously, reading over each time there’s mention of “the penis” you can’t tell me almost every sentence doesn’t have a hidden innuendo.
I Am A Teacher Can someone explain the title here?
"Biking Through Life": "where is my yogurt … and returns with yogurt". I Ioved the narrative structure of this paragraph. The author did a great job of transposing the words of TC into something of structure and really made it a story.
"I am Teacher": "or maybe that's just where my own development froze." I really like how this paper ended with a quote from Mr. Hackman. I think the paper has a REALLY good start, and the ending leaves you wanted to hear quotes from this very smart man. Bravo.
I'm wondering if in "I Am Teacher" it was a good idea to place a poem in the essay. Was the author doing that just to get page numbers?
In "I Am a Teacher" the opening line was such a well written hook. Its almost impossible to read that and stop there saying "yeah I've read enough." The quote "It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story," is my favorite.
My favorite quote in "A Guy Named Kyle" is: "He looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body, but stopped mentally maturing at 17." This quote is so descriptive and well written. In one sentence you get such a good idea about who he is.
In the essay about Mr. Cochran I would like to know more about the relationship between him and the author, how she views him as a teacher and their educational relationship.
The opening of "A Guy Name Kyle", I found, was really intriguing. It sets Kyle apart from others and gives you a sense of his personality and image. The author is good at describing the setting as well, making it feel almost like a tour of the house as well of a tour of the person. "Kyle jokes as he sits on a nice floral print chair in front of a TV with VCR and Nintendo, adjacent to the video wrack."
I really liked how "I Am A Teacher" was more of a story of the class, than of the teacher, although that may make some think it missed the point of the assignment. I think it really shows how fun a teacher Mr. Hackman can be. I like how the author is sure to say how Hackman feels about these stories of his classroom: "The turbine wheel has been taken up to the physics room to determine the exact weight and the elongated drain basket is put away in the closet, but Hackman is not nostalgic."
I think that the ending of A Guy Name Kyle was good but I wish that the author had explored his relationships with his children and wife even more, because the author seems to have just gone with what he saw, but didn't ask too much about it.
The author of "I am a Teacher" was smart in that they knew how to hook the audience right off the bat with using the word 'penis.' I really liked their style of writing as well, I liked especially the third paragraph, "like most of the peculiar happenings in Steve Hackman's high school English room, "the penis" was born sporadically and died just as quickly." The author managed to capture the quirky nature of Mr. Hackman and any of his classes.
"A Guy Named Kyle": I didn't like this essay that much, I think they did a good job of expressing Kyle, and his opinions on many things, but I was still kind of unsure as to the relationship between the author and Kyle. I really liked his description in the beginning, "this noise is the word 'shit' after being thrown in a washing machine with a rugged pair of Carharts covered in sawdust and reeking of cigarettes." It was extremely descriptive considering he was describing only a swear word.
At first I found "The man from Mawah: kind of boring but I liked the flashback that is towards the end, where the author describes a day in the locker room before New Englands. about Mr. Eakin admitting to the fact that he "screwed up." Even though the author kind of rambled on and it was a little confusing.
A Guy Named Kyle: “’Shiiaaat’ is the first sound that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey” (p.1). I think this is a pretty good hook. When I first read it, I was interested in why people think that first when they see this guy. The author did a good job of getting my attention on that but he never touched on that subject again. I feel like he/she was desperate for a good hook or was too lazy to talk about that again. They should have said why people think that. That could be improved. It’s kind of unnecessary otherwise.
I Am A Teacher: “On the contrary, Hackman thrives on the randomness of life; he finds great humor in the little quirky moments of day to day living” (p.1). I really like this line. It gives life to the character. That line, along with the previous paragraph, the author does a good job developing the qualities of Mr. Hackman. You can tell that he, like his items in his room, is not like your norm.
The Man from Mahwah: What did Mr. Eakin first think of Hanover High School? Did he not like it at first like he did with teaching and coaching?
A Guy Named Kyle-- “This noise is the word ‘Shit’ after being thrown in a washing machine with a rugged pair of Carharts covered in sawdust and reeking of cigarettes.” -This quote displays physical characteristics as well as personality. Just by reading this one sentence it’s implied that Kyle is outgoing and sometimes blunt, that he smokes, and that he works probably as a carpenter. This is a strong sentence because it tells you a lot with little words necessary, allowing you to analyze it without taking to much time to do so.
Biking through Life-- “He was not a very serious student in high school, he explains and didn’t do very well in French class. He admits that he was ‘okay with B’s and C’s’.” -I don’t think this part is necessary in her paper, nor adds anything to it. If anything I think it takes away from Mr. Cochran. I think most high school students try harder once in college, or find something they’re more interested in. Maybe if she had touched more on French class in high school it would have been helpful. He didn’t do well, we know that, but did he enjoy it? Mention his teacher maybe? Make that part more meaningful and individualized to the piece.
The Man from Mahwah--What does he mean when he refers to “Mickey Mouse teaching crap”?
When I read "I Am A Teacher" I was immediately confused and curious when I saw the first line "it's commonly called 'the penis'." Not many essays I've read start off with such an awkward topic. As I continued to read I realized that awkward was just the way to begin this essay. Mr.Hackman is the definition of awkward and also weird, in a good way. One of my favorite parts of this essay is the physical description; when the author says "relaxed in his chair, book of philosophy in front of him, Hackman looks the stereotypical seasoned English professor: thick glasses, full white mustache thin white hair" and then again in the next paragraph when he/she talks about how he is also a stereotypical Upper Valley inhabitant. This author includes great imagery and humorous text.
Last year I watched Mr.Eakin's cat and tortoise so I had a little bit of background on his personality before reading "The Man from Mahwah. Personally, I thought that the author made Mr.Eakin sound a lot more angry than he actually is. When the author talks about Anna Mertz coming into the classroom to take a picture of Mr.Eakin for the year book and recounts his sarcastic reaction "Yeah, I'll get my hair cut" in a barking tone, while glaring. That is not the Mr.Eakin I met. I don't think the author portrayed him in an accurate fashion.
I think the author of "A Guy Named Kyle" spend too much time on getting to the interview and the setting of the interview. Why does he/she do this? What significance does it have?
When I started reading “I Am A Teacher” I was confused, especially with they way it started out. It was humorous at first, but after the second page it was really boring to read.
When I started reading “I Am A Teacher” I was confused, especially with they way it started out. It was humorous at first, but after the second page it was really boring to read. I was waiting for the humor to come back and it did in some parts, but I just wasn’t interested
In the essay “A Guy Named Kyle” I think that he spent too much time with the small details and too much time describing the surroundings. Why doesn’t he spend more time talking about the interview rather than about the guy?
I Am A Teacher: "It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story" This is possibly one of the best hooks I have read in recent history. Not only does it catch the reader's attention but it also incorporates a pun into the hook. You know you have made it big time when that happens. Also, Mr. Hackman is one of my favorite teachers and personally have experienced said penis in his classroom so the story is especially personal. The essay, especially with the use of the goofy hook, perfectly illustrates the ridiculousness of Mr. Hackman's demeanor every day. This is essay excellently captured his spirit.
A Guy Named Kyle: "This noise is the word ‘Shit’ after being thrown in a washing machine with a rugged pair of Carharts covered in sawdust and reeking of cigarettes" This immediately paints the picture of who Kyle is. He is a rugged carpenter who smokes and is your stereotypical hammer-toting dude. Once again, the profile essay has an extremely strong hook that sets the tone of the essay and gives you a good picture of who the subject is.
What was the purpose and meaning of the poem at the end of I Am A Teacher?
I Am a Teacher: "It's commonly called 'the penis' and it has a long, methodical story." This intro was offensive, in a good way. The use of 'penis' in an academic essay is inappropriate and unexpected, but it works as a great interest catcher because of this. The author also picked a word that, while inappropriate, isn't actually vulgar, so it's a good choice for a surprise word in the interest catcher.
A Guy Named Kyle: "Shiaat" is the first sound that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey". This hook is not as good. For one, it uses both a vulgar word and a slang spelling for it, which is unnecessary. The author could have used one of the many other strong images associated with Kyle, but they chose one that is needlessly vulgar just for shock value.
I am a teacher: Is the use of poems in the essay truly needed to make the essay a strong piece of writing, or does it distract from the type of literature that we are reading?
Quote in "A Guy Names Kyle": ""...he's not really Mexican; he just looks like it..." Kyle explains." Not many people talk so non-politically correct but I like to on occasion so I have an appreciation for Kyle's sense of humor. It also helps build up the understanding of the character, Kyle. The way he talks make him seem carefree and confident. He doesn't care about what other people think of him and this quote show that he is genuine.
Quote in "I am a Teacher": "It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story." Although at first I was a little confused and skeptical of such a hook, once I continued reading and found out that the quote was from Mr. Hackman, everything immediately came clear. That quote depicts his personality so well and as I kept reading, I realized that even if I hadn't previously know Mr. Hackman, I would have been able to get a general sense of his personality and quirks and the quote in the beginning very well represents this.
Question from "A Guy Names Kyle": Is it ok to use quotes like "Shiaat" in essays. Would colleges be offended and if it doesn't completely contribute to describing the person, is it really necessary?
I Am a Teacher
ReplyDelete"It's commonly called "the penis" and it has a long, methodical story"
I really liked this opening. Using penis in the opening sentence is a very bold move but I think it's very effective in grabbing the attention of the reader. It took me a second to get passed as I was taken aback by the opening line but I wanted to find out more about why it was there. The whole essay was very light hearted and a fun read and I think the casual opening set a good tone for the rest of the paper.
A Guy Named Kyle
"...he's not really Mexican; he just looks like it..." Kyle explains.
I laughed at this line and really thought it added to the paper. This is exactly something I would say or something my brother would say so I found it very funny. I like the relaxed tone of when Kyle talks and the author really gets that feeling across. There are effective sections of dialogue that set the tone of the paper really well and that's crucial when writing a profile essay. A Guy Named Kyle is simple tells a good story and creates a nice tone.
I Am a Teacher
Question: Did Mr. Eakin mind that he wasn't making very much money after a few years of teaching?
I Am A Teacher: “On-and-off describes much of his life: he went in and out of college, in and out of teaching, and in and out of what he will only describe as “less respectable lifestyles’” (6). After having Mr. Hackman, I can agree that on-and-off might seem like a good description, but I think this sentence and idea is very vague. The author should go into more detail about how his school was on and off, the circumstances around him going into and out of teaching, and what those lifestyles are, so we get a better picture of Mr. Hackman growing up and figuring himself out, rather than just a snapshot of one of his classes.
ReplyDeleteA Guy Named Kyle: “Wearing a red sweatshirt, worn jeans, and dirt caked sneakers, he looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body but stopped mentally maturing at 17” (1). I think this is a very good description with which to begin the essay. It allowed me to picture a young man who has aged with hard work and cigarettes. I think it may have been better to reword it, though, so that it does not imply that he looks like he stopped mentally maturing at 17, since she already said he looks like a 40-year-old.
The Man From Mahwah: What is the significance of robbing a bank with George Lahey? It seems like some inside joke that the reader knows nothing about and doesn’t seem to fit into the essay.
The Man from Mahwah "Loose jaw! All Right, settle down, settle. 500 to go! Good, Georgia! All right, Bridgette! Good, Beth!"
ReplyDeleteI really liked the authors use of dialogue in this essay, I think it added to the experience that the author had while running with Mr. Eakin. Along the same lines, I like how the author talked throughout the essay as if he was interviewing Mr. Eakin in front of us, and even includes an interruption in their conversation in the essay
I Am A Teacher- "It's commonly called 'the penis' and it has a long, methodical story."
I really didn't like this intro. Although I do think that a bold start to the essay could intrigue the reader, the author fails to explain himself for the use of the word "penis" until the very end of the second paragraph. I felt as though I was listening to someones inside joke and didn't get it, and it didn't hook me at all.
Question: What was the significance of "the penis" in I Am A Teacher? It opens the essay and then talks about how it goes away but Hackman didn't really care?
A guy named Kyle:
ReplyDelete"Once I got to know him over the course of the week, I realized that you can't tell a book by its cover, and so did he. After almost a week, we exchanged first impressions and then laughed it off. "I thought Miss Priss, when I first saw you when I first saw you," he told me, "but I gave you and all the others a chance before I let my judgements get in the way"
I really like this part of the essay because it kind of starts the whole idea of how it may have been hard for these two people to get to know each other. I find the whole essay interesting and a topic that seems to stand out from the other profile essays that I have read.
The Man from Mahwah
"Someone may pass you that you weren't expecting. Maybe a hill will hurt more than you think. Don't worry about it. You're gonna have some moments of doubt. When that happens, just think, fingertips, loose jaw. Run through it. It will pass."
I feel that I can relate to this part of the essay because when I do fencing, I never know what's going to happen, who I will have to fence, if I have a good day or bad day and how much I may doubt myself. Any sport is hard and I feel that every athlete can relate to this paragraph.
In "I Am A Teacher", why does the writer put a poem at the end?
"One day a student, for no known reason, brought in a large turbine wheel. Another student placed a decorative plant in the middle" - I Am A Teacher
ReplyDeleteI particularly enjoyed reading about this because I took a Philosophy class with Mr. Hackman and was excited to read about the turbine's origin. At this point in the essay, I guessed that it was a paper about Mr. Hackman, but for many other readers they would not have known. This really grabbed my attention and made it more enjoyable to read the rest of the paper.
"He looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body, but stopped mentally maturing at 17." - A Guy Named Kyle
I really liked this part of the paper. I think it gives a funny, metaphorical description of the person they're writing about. I think it shows a lot of character of not only Kyle, but also the author himself. You get the sense that he knows him well and is on good enough terms to make somewhat of a joke about him.
Question: I'm very curious about who wrote the "I Am A Teacher" paper. I wonder if Mr. Hackman ever read it, because if he hasn't, I think he would really enjoy it.
Quote from “I am a Teacher:” “Hackman thrives on the randomness of life; he finds great humor in the little quirky moments of day to day life.” I thought that this statement is very true. I had Mr. Hackman for comp 2 and as I read this essay I recalled more and more memories and stories. Just from reading the first two sentences I knew who this essay was about. I also liked how Mr. Hackman was described at the bottom of page 3 (stereotypical English professor and New Englander).
ReplyDeleteQuote from “A Guy Named Kyle:” “After that I comment on his fun ‘toys’ like the ATV, chain saws, jack hammers, and gun collection that he gave me a tour of the last time I visited.” It was funny to see my name in the essay. I was skimming that section and my eyes caught “Andrea” and I was like “oh, that’s me!” (but not really). I also liked this quote because it gives a good picture of Kyle and what he likes to do. I really want to ATV – not sure if that is a verb – and I shoot, so I kind of connected with that.
Question from “The Man from Mahwah:” I am confused about who this is about. Is it Profe of some other Mr. Eakin? If it is Profe nothing makes sense except for the track coach part...
Jack Roberts:
ReplyDelete1. The Man from Mahwah: "I wouldn't change anything. I've tried to change my life before. No matter what, it always comes back to teaching."-So the title of this essay is "The Man from Mahwah" and it opens with a sentence of Mr. Eakin being reminded of Mahwah. However, I don't think that is how the essay should have been titled nor do I think it should have opened that way. The whole point about the essay is how Mr. Eakin is great teacher reenforced by the scene where the girl snaps her pencil when she thinks he is retiring. The main focus of teaching should have been established in the title and the opening paragraph.
2. I Am A Teacher: "He told me once that every year he rotated it ninety degrees because, to be honest, he didn't know which way was right side up." Lines like these through out the essay do a great job at describing Mr. Hackman's character. I had him as a teacher last year and this easy had me chuckling. The stories are funny and separate Mr. Hackman from the average teacher, even the average person.
3. A Guy Named Kyle: Does the author work for Kyle or are they just friends?
"'Shiiiaaaat' is the first word that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey." I really liked this opening because out of all three essays, it is the one that grabbed my attention enough to make me want to read "A Guy Named Kyle" first. I think the opening line was also represented the tone and content of the rest of the essay really accurately. The writer kept the audience s/he attracted.
ReplyDelete"Despite his half-joking tone, however, each adjective strikes a memory for me…. the kind look in his eyes quelling the tears threatening to spill.." I really liked the description and use of vocabulary in "The Man from Mahwah" because I feel like it enhanced the piece without making it feel over-worked. The description in this essay like when the writer was describing Mr. Eakin's "kelly green desk chair" made the setting and events easy to visualize.
In I Am A Teacher the writer interprets something by saying "which I assume means" - How formal are these essays supposed to be?
The Man from Mahwah
ReplyDelete"'Always expect the unexpected,' he tells us smugly as we labor through the second set of cones". I like this paragraph because the saying "always expect the unexpected" has a very true meaning to it. It says at one point that there will be a moment of doubt, but going back to the quote you know it's just something you have to push through.
A Guy Named Kyle
"'Shiiiaaat' is the first sound that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey". This is a perfect opening sentence because not only does it start with a catching word, but it makes you began to think: who is Kyle Willey?
I Am A Teacher
"It's commonly called "the penis" and it has a long, methodical story". Just like in "A Guy Named Kyle", the introduction to this story is perfect. I read the first sentence aloud next to someone and their attention was caught very quickly, and that is what you are looking for.
Did it make the essay "I Am A Teacher" stronger by placing poems in it?
I Am A Teacher – “It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story. This is a brilliant opening. I found myself reading on just to find out what this person was talking about. You get taken a bit aback when you read the first line but the when you get over than you can’t help but crack a smile at that line. This line is immediately followed by a small narrative. The little narrative is entertaining and funny and a good piece to start off with. The story just sounds like one of Mr. Hackman’s story and because of that it accomplishes its goal.
ReplyDeleteA Guy Named Kyle - “Wearing a red sweatshirt, worn jeans, and dirt caked sneakers, he looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body, but stopped mentally maturing at 17." I really liked this line. It gives you such a good image of what Kyle looks like and what his personality is like. You are able to draw this mental picture of him and start piecing together what he is like. It also has an element of humor to it that’s fun to read.
The Man from Mahwah – On the bottom of the back of the first page and the top of the second, how bad were his money troubles? It seems like a severity would help clear that up.
The Man from Mahwah -“ ‘Always expect the unexpected,’ … ‘Those second cones were unexpected. There are gonna be some surprises Saturday…Don’t worry about it…When it happens, just think, fingertips, loose jaw. Run through it. It will pass. ” I really liked this paragraph. It really brought me to the practice, and made me feel like I was his runner. It was a good example of his talent as a coach.
ReplyDeleteI Am A Teacher – “It’s commonly called ‘the penis’ and it has a long, methodical story.” I think this is a great opener. You don’t often read the word “penis” in school essays. It catches you off guard in a good way.
Could the author talk more about the church-rebuilding trip? Since that is where he first met him, it seems like it could be important to both the author and the subject.
From “The Man from Mahwah” - "'I'm direct, honest,' he answers slowly when I ask him to describe himself. ‘Empathetic, believe it or not.’ He chuckled wickedly as one of the seniors in the classroom snorts.” - I really like the way this was put together, broken apart between his words to sneak in the question that was posed. At the end it even shows a little sense of humor and his relationship with students. It’s clear to me that he seems like a pretty likeable guy, laughing along with students and all.
ReplyDeleteI like how in “I Am A Teacher” there is a really catchy intro but also that there is so much description, you get a feel for the style, likes and dislikes of the Mr. Steve Hackman. I would have liked more of an interview, I didn’t really hear anything about what his life outside of school was, he just seemed like the teacher that doesn’t have one, maybe he is, but im sure he isn’t. #breakingbad? ;)
I LOVE THE INTRO to “A guy named Kyle. It’s just. I love it. Question though, I guess I just want to know more about the teacher in, like outside life from “I Am A Teacher” as previously stated above.
"It's commonly called "the penis" and it has a long, methodical story"... this is a great interest catcher.
ReplyDelete"Despite his half-joking tone, however, each adjective strikes a memory for me…. the kind look in his eyes quelling the tears threatening to spill..".... This is really good detail and really helps convey emotion to the reader.
Why doesn't the author of "A Guy Named Kyle" talk more about the background of how they got to know this man?
Biking Through Life
ReplyDelete“...crossing his long legs and looking thoughtfully towards the ceiling, yogurt in hand.”
It might not seem noticeable to any who have not actually met Mr. Cochran, but after having a year of french in his class, this paper can completely envelope his identity. I can imagine him saying the words, I can imagine him nodded, searching his pockets, asking questions to himself out loud. All these little quirks that I and undoubtedly many other look over when talking to him in person. And by putting them in this paper, it makes it even easier to really get an image of him sitting there, thinking, and just eating some yogurt.
I Am A Teacher
“It’s commonly called ‘the penis’ and it has a long, methodical story.”
Was the ‘long’ really necessary, and here I thought I was the king of the innuendo, but noo, this person just had to go and stick penis all throughout their front page, but hey I guess it worked, because I read the whole thing. But seriously, reading over each time there’s mention of “the penis” you can’t tell me almost every sentence doesn’t have a hidden innuendo.
I Am A Teacher
Can someone explain the title here?
"Biking Through Life": "where is my yogurt … and returns with yogurt". I Ioved the narrative structure of this paragraph. The author did a great job of transposing the words of TC into something of structure and really made it a story.
ReplyDelete"I am Teacher": "or maybe that's just where my own development froze." I really like how this paper ended with a quote from Mr. Hackman. I think the paper has a REALLY good start, and the ending leaves you wanted to hear quotes from this very smart man. Bravo.
I'm wondering if in "I Am Teacher" it was a good idea to place a poem in the essay. Was the author doing that just to get page numbers?
In "I Am a Teacher" the opening line was such a well written hook. Its almost impossible to read that and stop there saying "yeah I've read enough." The quote "It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story," is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote in "A Guy Named Kyle" is: "He looks the same as always; a 29 year old man who is trapped in what looks like a 40 year old body, but stopped mentally maturing at 17." This quote is so descriptive and well written. In one sentence you get such a good idea about who he is.
In the essay about Mr. Cochran I would like to know more about the relationship between him and the author, how she views him as a teacher and their educational relationship.
The opening of "A Guy Name Kyle", I found, was really intriguing. It sets Kyle apart from others and gives you a sense of his personality and image. The author is good at describing the setting as well, making it feel almost like a tour of the house as well of a tour of the person. "Kyle jokes as he sits on a nice floral print chair in front of a TV with VCR and Nintendo, adjacent to the video wrack."
ReplyDeleteI really liked how "I Am A Teacher" was more of a story of the class, than of the teacher, although that may make some think it missed the point of the assignment. I think it really shows how fun a teacher Mr. Hackman can be. I like how the author is sure to say how Hackman feels about these stories of his classroom: "The turbine wheel has been taken up to the physics room to determine the exact weight and the elongated drain basket is put away in the closet, but Hackman is not nostalgic."
I think that the ending of A Guy Name Kyle was good but I wish that the author had explored his relationships with his children and wife even more, because the author seems to have just gone with what he saw, but didn't ask too much about it.
The author of "I am a Teacher" was smart in that they knew how to hook the audience right off the bat with using the word 'penis.' I really liked their style of writing as well, I liked especially the third paragraph, "like most of the peculiar happenings in Steve Hackman's high school English room, "the penis" was born sporadically and died just as quickly." The author managed to capture the quirky nature of Mr. Hackman and any of his classes.
ReplyDelete"A Guy Named Kyle": I didn't like this essay that much, I think they did a good job of expressing Kyle, and his opinions on many things, but I was still kind of unsure as to the relationship between the author and Kyle. I really liked his description in the beginning, "this noise is the word 'shit' after being thrown in a washing machine with a rugged pair of Carharts covered in sawdust and reeking of cigarettes." It was extremely descriptive considering he was describing only a swear word.
At first I found "The man from Mawah: kind of boring but I liked the flashback that is towards the end, where the author describes a day in the locker room before New Englands. about Mr. Eakin admitting to the fact that he "screwed up." Even though the author kind of rambled on and it was a little confusing.
A Guy Named Kyle: “’Shiiaaat’ is the first sound that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him, thinks of Kyle Willey” (p.1). I think this is a pretty good hook. When I first read it, I was interested in why people think that first when they see this guy. The author did a good job of getting my attention on that but he never touched on that subject again. I feel like he/she was desperate for a good hook or was too lazy to talk about that again. They should have said why people think that. That could be improved. It’s kind of unnecessary otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI Am A Teacher: “On the contrary, Hackman thrives on the randomness of life; he finds great humor in the little quirky moments of day to day living” (p.1). I really like this line. It gives life to the character. That line, along with the previous paragraph, the author does a good job developing the qualities of Mr. Hackman. You can tell that he, like his items in his room, is not like your norm.
The Man from Mahwah: What did Mr. Eakin first think of Hanover High School? Did he not like it at first like he did with teaching and coaching?
A Guy Named Kyle-- “This noise is the word ‘Shit’ after being thrown in a washing machine with a rugged pair of Carharts covered in sawdust and reeking of cigarettes.”
ReplyDelete-This quote displays physical characteristics as well as personality. Just by reading this one sentence it’s implied that Kyle is outgoing and sometimes blunt, that he smokes, and that he works probably as a carpenter. This is a strong sentence because it tells you a lot with little words necessary, allowing you to analyze it without taking to much time to do so.
Biking through Life-- “He was not a very serious student in high school, he explains and didn’t do very well in French class. He admits that he was ‘okay with B’s and C’s’.”
-I don’t think this part is necessary in her paper, nor adds anything to it. If anything I think it takes away from Mr. Cochran. I think most high school students try harder once in college, or find something they’re more interested in. Maybe if she had touched more on French class in high school it would have been helpful. He didn’t do well, we know that, but did he enjoy it? Mention his teacher maybe? Make that part more meaningful and individualized to the piece.
The Man from Mahwah--What does he mean when he refers to “Mickey Mouse teaching crap”?
When I read "I Am A Teacher" I was immediately confused and curious when I saw the first line "it's commonly called 'the penis'." Not many essays I've read start off with such an awkward topic. As I continued to read I realized that awkward was just the way to begin this essay. Mr.Hackman is the definition of awkward and also weird, in a good way. One of my favorite parts of this essay is the physical description; when the author says "relaxed in his chair, book of philosophy in front of him, Hackman looks the stereotypical seasoned English professor: thick glasses, full white mustache thin white hair" and then again in the next paragraph when he/she talks about how he is also a stereotypical Upper Valley inhabitant. This author includes great imagery and humorous text.
ReplyDeleteLast year I watched Mr.Eakin's cat and tortoise so I had a little bit of background on his personality before reading "The Man from Mahwah. Personally, I thought that the author made Mr.Eakin sound a lot more angry than he actually is. When the author talks about Anna Mertz coming into the classroom to take a picture of Mr.Eakin for the year book and recounts his sarcastic reaction "Yeah, I'll get my hair cut" in a barking tone, while glaring. That is not the Mr.Eakin I met. I don't think the author portrayed him in an accurate fashion.
I think the author of "A Guy Named Kyle" spend too much time on getting to the interview and the setting of the interview. Why does he/she do this? What significance does it have?
When I started reading “I Am A Teacher” I was confused, especially with they way it started out. It was humorous at first, but after the second page it was really boring to read.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started reading “I Am A Teacher” I was confused, especially with they way it started out. It was humorous at first, but after the second page it was really boring to read. I was waiting for the humor to come back and it did in some parts, but I just wasn’t interested
In the essay “A Guy Named Kyle” I think that he spent too much time with the small details and too much time describing the surroundings. Why doesn’t he spend more time talking about the interview rather than about the guy?
I Am A Teacher: "It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story"
ReplyDeleteThis is possibly one of the best hooks I have read in recent history. Not only does it catch the reader's attention but it also incorporates a pun into the hook. You know you have made it big time when that happens. Also, Mr. Hackman is one of my favorite teachers and personally have experienced said penis in his classroom so the story is especially personal. The essay, especially with the use of the goofy hook, perfectly illustrates the ridiculousness of Mr. Hackman's demeanor every day. This is essay excellently captured his spirit.
A Guy Named Kyle: "This noise is the word ‘Shit’ after being thrown in a washing machine with a rugged pair of Carharts covered in sawdust and reeking of cigarettes"
This immediately paints the picture of who Kyle is. He is a rugged carpenter who smokes and is your stereotypical hammer-toting dude. Once again, the profile essay has an extremely strong hook that sets the tone of the essay and gives you a good picture of who the subject is.
What was the purpose and meaning of the poem at the end of I Am A Teacher?
I Am a Teacher:
ReplyDelete"It's commonly called 'the penis' and it has a long, methodical story." This intro was offensive, in a good way. The use of 'penis' in an academic essay
is inappropriate and unexpected, but it works as a great interest catcher because of this. The author also picked a word that, while inappropriate, isn't actually vulgar, so it's a good choice for a surprise word in the interest catcher.
A Guy Named Kyle:
"Shiaat" is the first sound that comes to mind when I, or anyone who knows him,
thinks of Kyle Willey". This hook is not as good. For one, it uses both a vulgar word
and a slang spelling for it, which is unnecessary. The author could have used one of the many other strong images associated with Kyle, but they chose one that
is needlessly vulgar just for shock value.
I am a teacher:
Is the use of poems in the essay truly needed to make the essay a
strong piece of writing, or does it distract from the type of literature that we are
reading?
Quote in "A Guy Names Kyle": ""...he's not really Mexican; he just looks like it..." Kyle explains." Not many people talk so non-politically correct but I like to on occasion so I have an appreciation for Kyle's sense of humor. It also helps build up the understanding of the character, Kyle. The way he talks make him seem carefree and confident. He doesn't care about what other people think of him and this quote show that he is genuine.
ReplyDeleteQuote in "I am a Teacher": "It’s commonly called “the penis” and it has a long, methodical story." Although at first I was a little confused and skeptical of such a hook, once I continued reading and found out that the quote was from Mr. Hackman, everything immediately came clear. That quote depicts his personality so well and as I kept reading, I realized that even if I hadn't previously know Mr. Hackman, I would have been able to get a general sense of his personality and quirks and the quote in the beginning very well represents this.
Question from "A Guy Names Kyle": Is it ok to use quotes like "Shiaat" in essays. Would colleges be offended and if it doesn't completely contribute to describing the person, is it really necessary?