Windmills & Giants

We are annotating Michael Lewis's "Cross-Buying" over the weekend.  As you read over the article, pay attention to any parts you find interesting, while concentrating on the author's voice (T-DIDLS).  When you come across an interesting word or phrase, ask yourself what it does for the author's argument.  Here are a few questions to get you started:

• In the first paragraph, Lewis makes several seemingly contradictory statements. Identify these. Why does he use this juxtaposition, and what assumptions does he want to dispel? What further questions does this raise?
• What descriptors is Lewis using for each gender? What are the general connotations, and what can you infer about his use of stereotypes?
• In paragraph three, we have "low, juvenile instincts," "exploding word bombs," and "people diving for cover." What gender is the preceding, unidentified "anyone"? How do you surmise this?
• How does the author's use of parenthetical and dashed asides contribute to the overall tone of the piece?
• There is a shift in syntax and imagery from paragraph four to paragraph five. it hinges on the author's use of asyndeton. How does this further his argument?

You don't need to write out the answers to these questions; they are merely here to help you get started. We'll discuss these and more in class on Monday.  If you want to record your thoughts, I suggest using your journal.

From the vault

Over the next few days I'll be resurrecting some old posts from last year to supplement our lectures.