While reading Boyd's essay "Murder! Rhetorically Speaking" I was genuinely intrigued by the phase "Learning How to Say Goodbye" on page 94. In this part of the essay Boyd went on to explain how saying goodbye is like writing a eulogy for a funeral. She stated how most people usually feel compelled to use all five facts but an actual eulogy you wouldn't. I learned that each of the five facts all bring a different perspective to the audience when it comes to the reader. In order to be a good writer, you must observe, recognize, and provide proof of your point when it comes to reading and writing. You asked if I find Boyd persuasive? The answer is yes because she explains what is needed to become a good writer but in a away the grabs and keeps the reader's attention.
Work Cited
Boyd, Janet. “Murder! (Rhetorically Speaking).” Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, Volume 2, edited by Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky, Parlor Press and WAC Clearinghouse, 2011, pp. 101-113. Writing Spaces, http://writingspaces.org/essays.
I totally get why you found that part of Boyd's essay intriguing. The comparison of saying goodbye to writing a eulogy is a powerful metaphor. It really drives home the point about the importance of choosing the right details to convey a message effectively. Boyd's explanation that not all five facts are necessary in a eulogy makes you think about how selective you need to be in your writing to make it impactful. Observing, recognizing, and providing proof are indeed crucial skills for any good writer.
ReplyDeleteUsing a familiar object in everyone's lives such as a eulogy was definitely another interesting, yet beautifully worded choice from Boyd. That goes to prove her point even further on how small choices you make during the writing process can make it resonate all the more with the reader, depending on who it is and what they're reading.
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