As I wondered yesterday what my blog post should be about, I kept thinking about the Belcher book. I previously mentioned in class how the introduction and first chapter of Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks felt like a “How To…” book. The more that I dele into the book, the more this is confirmed for me.
So, I though I would write in defense of these types of articles, stories, books, etc… Chapter 2 of Belcher’s book basically saved my article. It wasn’t a bad one, I’m not “falling down just to be lifted” (don’t know if the meaning translates, but it’s a saying in Spanish), but there are serious with it as it is now. The people who have read it (and re-read it, shout out to Mckenzie) have noted that there’s no cohesive idea to bind my very interesting ideas behind. Meaning, there is no argument.
Enter Belcher Chapter 2: “Advancing Your Argument.”
If this is the second chapter, preceded only by the ‘setup’ chapter, then it must be an important one. And spoiler alert, if you haven’t done the reading, it is.
I do have to admit that at times, it felt like one of those online recipes that have swipes upon swipes of story before you get to the actual recipe, but once we got to the meatier part of working with the argument, it was smooth sailing from there. (Apologies for all the mixed metaphors.)
I enter this week invigorated thanks to Belchers “How to create an argument” chapter.
Luisanna,
I love seeing you put the Belcher chapter to work! I have been really nervous about my upcoming seminar paper, so it helps to think of an essay like this in chunks. I’m going to be chunking it up for the next couple of weeks! Whoo Hoo!
I am so glad to hear this! I too have found my writing practice and overall approach to my work has been reinvigorated by rereading Belcher this term.
Yes, I think there’s huge variation among ‘how to’ guides in terms of how much they meet their audience where they are and how compassionate and practicable and well-informed and pedagogically sound they are. I avoided reading Belcher for YEARS simply because of her title, despite Victoria’s recommendation (and I admire and respect Victoria as a teacher and scholar, very much). But it was Belcher’s journal article on why she wrote the book that sold me on it, and I do find it’s very helpful. I also like the humor, which Kyle picks up on nicely this week.