Learning why a particular technique works is difficult, and one reasonable way teachers often approach the issue is to show students examples of highly effective essays or analyses.
However, those don't always work. At the sight of a very effective work, some struggling students may tune out, thinking, "Oh, I'll never be able to write that well," or "I can't do that," and feel as if they can't advance. That's why a different tool for teaching is to explore a INeffective essay and analyze why that example didn't work. For many students, this is a safer alternative: they're now in the position of critics, not admirers, and their job is to find out what's wrong -- not necessarily duplicate what's right. The following examples are taken from less-effective essays answering a prompt about the author's use of rhetorical devices and language in the opening of Dombey and Son. Your assignment is pretty simple: Why was this essay ineffective? |
Directions
After reading and analyzing just the prompt from Dombey and Son, one in which students were asked about Dickens' use of rhetorical devices and language, students can discuss the following authentic examples of some selections from student essays. The following questions can be used to guide students through the process if needed: Questions
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Examples for Analysis from Dombey and Son
Selection 1
Characterization is the way in which an author can show his style of writing. An authors view of his characters is directly reflected in how a reader percepts those same characters. An author may use many stylistic devices such as; imagery, diction, narrative structure, and choice of specific details to move the reader. |
Selection 2
Imagery is used throughout this passage to get the authors point across The author first hints to Son, and uses imagery like, "toasting him brown while he was very new." This type of imagery gives readers a perception of what kind of situation Son was in. Next the author looks at Dombey's forehead. "On the brow of Dombey, Time and his brother Care had set some marks, as on a tree that was to come down in time--remorseless twins they are for striding through their human forests, notching as they go." this type of imagery clearly shows what Dombey's forehead must have looked like. |
Selection 3
Specific details are the building blocks of a passage like this. "A transient flush of faint surprise overspread the sick lady's face as she raised her eyes toward him." This type of specific detail gives the reader a clue that the lady was not used to being addressed by her husband in this way. The words "Dombey and Son," are used at the end, and the entire world according to the author was made to revolve around "Dombey and Son's" life. |
Selection 4
This passage uses narrative structure to best get across his message to us as the readers. This type of structure allows the author to narrate the story to the reader--allowing the reader to judge what the author's view really is. Details and imagery can best be exploited in this type of passage. Readers can find depth of the character through this type of writing. |
Selection 5
The different types of stylistic devices used in an authors writing can only inhance what a reader percepts. In this passage this reader could only examine this story through the extraordinary use of stylistic devices. |