Gerald Graff's Disliking Books

In "Disliking Books" Gerald Graff informs the reader of his troubled childhood with literature. Like many students, Graff disliked reading books, and when he did read books, it would mainly be comic books and sports novels. He informs the reader that it was not until college where he fully began to appreciate literature. He pursued a major in English in order to push himself beyond wanting to read books of his personal leisure. And like many students, Graff struggled to read the dull, boring books, often giving up on reading them because they were too difficult. Graff became fascinated with reading when he had to write his term paper on the ending of "Huckleberry Finn", where he found fascination with reading the book and others like it. The main purpose of this narrative would be that anyone can learn to love literature. It just takes a topic like debating the ending of "Huckleberry Finn" to spark and interest in reading, like it did for

book Huckleberry Finn, the 13 year old protagonist defies society's values throughout the novel. In the beginning of the book Huck’s lying and manipulation seems selfish and unemotionally attached, but by the end he emotionally loves and risks his life for a black slave. Huck does this after he connects with Jim, allowing him to view slavery in a new eye. This book is set in the pre-civil war time period when slaves were dehumanized and abused. Growing up in a time like this, children were brainwashed to detach themselves from black people.

In “Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff, the author speaks about how schools should use students’ interests to develop their rhetorical and analytical skills. He spends a majority of his essay on telling his own experience of being sport loving and relating it to his anti-intellectual youth. He explains that through his love for sports, he developed rhetoric and began to analyze like an intellectual. Once he finishes his own story, he calls the schools to action advising them to not only allow students to use their interest as writing topics, but instead to teach the students on how to implement those compelling interests and present them in a scholarly way. In perspective, Graff’s argument becomes weak with his poor use of ethos, which he tries to build with his own anecdote but, through the same means he is able to build his pathos and in the last few paragraphs, with his use of logic he prevents his argument from becoming dismissible.

To be book smart or street smart, or is it possible to be both? In the reading, “ Hidden Intellectualism,” by Gerald Graff, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, he touches on the subject of being “street smart” but not doing too hot in school. He argues that if students could be as interested in school, and as book smart as they were street smart, then they would have the opportunity to thrive and excel in school all while enjoying it, he even goes on to use himself as an example of taking an anti-intellectual and becoming a great intellectual.

The novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is one of the most controversial novels written in American literature. Multiple different people have disagreed about this novel and whether it should be allowed to be taught in school or banned since the late 1980s. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a valuable novel and should be included in high school curriculum because it teaches students about the history of American society, it demonstrates Twain’s style of writing, and it addresses the topic of race.

"Making kids read books they are not mature enough to understand makes them hate reading for the rest of their lives"(Mullen 1). People have argued that high-school students are not mature enough for Huckleberry Finn and will find the book offensive. However most teens are

Many people read books and they are often so quick to judge the little details that describe an action, thought, and event that take place in the story. However, if we want to learn about the past and how it has influenced today’s world, we have to be prepared for whatever comes up. If we, as people, get offended and avoid reading famous written works from long ago, how will we be able to learn more about literature? Although “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” uses disrespectful language and contains immoral actions that should not be performed by anyone, it should not be banned because it is one of the few books that teach the audience a lesson that is still relevant in today’s society and allows us to

In the essay, Disliking Books at an Early Age, Gerald Graff talks about his transition from being displeased and uninterested in literature, to having intellectual discussions about it and even teaching it. He did not begin to enjoy reading until he had discussions about the books that he read, which showed him a different perspective. Overall, his essay explains how readers can only enjoy literature if they turn it into a social activity by freely interpreting and discussing the pieces they have read.

    Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is perhaps one of the most controversial novels the North American Continent has ever produced.  Since its publication more than a hundred years ago controversy has surrounded the book.  The most basic debate surrounding Twain's masterpiece is whether the book's language and the character of Jim are presented in a racist manner.  Many have called for the book to be banned from our nation's schools and libraries.  Mark Twain's novel is about a young boy who was raised in the south before slavery was abolished, a place where racism and bigotry were the fabric of every day life.  The novel is the account of how Huck Finn, who is a product of these

Year after year The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is placed in the top ten banned books in America. People find the novel to be oppressing and racially insensitive due to its frequent use of the n-word and the portrayal of blacks as a Sambo caricature. However, this goes against Mark Twain’s intent of bringing awareness to the racism in America. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is classified under the genre of satire and is narrated by a fictional character named Huckleberry Finn. The novel takes place in the south during the year 1845. With his abusive father, and no mother, Huck is left feeling lonely, and as if he has place to call his home. So he decides to leave town, and on in his journey where he encounters a slave he’s familiar with, Jim, who is also running away. This story captures their relationship and growth as they face many obstacles on their way to freedom. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn satirizes people’s greed and violent behavior by mocking the stereotype of southern hospitality.

Mark Twain referenced various topics of controversy in Huckleberry Finn. One of the main points was the ongoing conflict between blacks and whites. Another one was the difference of educated and non-educated people. The last point was the stereotypes society held then. Mark Twain mocked prejudices and beliefs of society by showing the blacks vs. whites conflict, the educated vs. non-educated, and the stereotypes.

Emily Silvia Summer 2014 Honors English Assignment Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by well-known author Mark Twain, one of the main themes is racism. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn takes place in a time when slavery is an issue and people of African American decent are looked down upon. During this time period slaves were often abused, not allowed to be educated and had no freedom.

The issue being debated in the article “Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff is street smarts versus book smarts. Gerald Graff is an English professor at the University of Illinois and has written many books. The author claims that people are better off if they are more street smart than book smart. The authors is very persuasive using real life examples. I although disagree with this claim. I think that you need an equal mix of both street and book smarts.

“Hidden Intellectualism,” an excerpt from They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff, explains the importance of having diverse intellectualism and helping the kids with street smart intellectualism turn it into academic growth. The author’s claim in this excerpt is that school and colleges are missing out on an opportunity of helping the street smart kids grow their intelligence into good academic work. The significance in the author’s claim is that the students who believe they don’t have much of an opportunity in school or other things related to academics, realize they do.

One of the biggest points of the book is the outlawing of books. This is because books almost all have opinions and they were written in a time where people voiced their opinions and weren’t