One more day of the classic debates. We saw some strong ones today, but we also have seen the age old battle of style versus substance in a few recent debates. Style is great. It's voice. It's personality. It's pizzazz. It gets our attention and sucks us in. But style alone is like the little pig who built his house out of sticks or the "foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matthew 7:24-27). They easily get blown over or washed away because they are flimsy. Substance, on the other hand, is the brick house, the house built on rocks. It's the strength, the foundation, the meat that nourishes us all (except you vegetarians). You want to have the style. You need to have the substance. The strongest presenters know how to balance both.
Three quarters down and one to go. This quarter we will focus on non-fiction pieces. We'll be reading, discussing, and analyzing a ton of them. Hey, you'll get your first one tomorrow. Before we start, however, I asked that you identify four questions you need to be asking whenever you read a nonfiction piece. No, these are not four questions that everyone knows off the top of his or her head. But they are four relevant questions you should be thinking about whenever you read non-fiction. By coming up with these four questions on your own tonight, it will give me some insight into what you think you should be thinking about when you read nonfiction. Have them written out before coming into class tomorrow. I'll be checking at the door.
Do you have that Battle of the Book team together yet? Battle of the Book takes place next Wednesday. The author will be here. Why not impress him with your knowledge?
See you tomorrow.
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