Luistro 1

Joywin Luistro

Student ID: 3203701

Basics in Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing, PHIL 152

Assignment 2

Friday, September 8th, 2017

 Luistro 2

Joywin Luistro

Dale Lindskog

PHIL 152

08 September 2017

For assignment 2, I have chosen to read the essay “Red Smile” by Edith Iglauer. My
answers for question 1-12 are based on my findings from the reading.

1. The direction words for each set of questions are listed and highlighted in red:

(5) 1. For each set of instructions in this assignment (that is, questions 1–12), identify
the direction words.

(20) 2. Use one of the two active reading methods to read the essay for this assignment.
Submit all your notes. For those steps usually done “in your head” (such
as recite), note briefly what you did in the step. If you use a Reading Inventory,
when you reach Rereading, only answer the questions from the first three bullets
of Rereading listed in the Reading Inventory table (p. 41).

(5) 3. In a word or phrase, state the topic of the passage.

(5) 4. What is the author’s purpose? In a sentence or two, explain what gave you this
impression.

(5) 5. Is the main idea explicit or implicit? If it is explicit, quote the thesis statement (in
quotation marks), and identify the page and paragraph number where it is
located. If the idea is implicit, state the main idea clearly, in your own words.

(5) 6. Describe the tone of the essay. In a few sentences, explain what impact this tone
has on your reactions as a reader, and give an example to illustrate the tone.

(30) 7. From your reaction/reflection notes, choose and copy out a comment that
triggers a topic idea for you. Then, state the topic. State your purpose. State your
main idea. Now, write a brief paragraph (no longer than 200 words) in which you
express this main idea, and provide suitable supporting details.

(5) 8. Find an example of a coordinate sentence. Give the paragraph and page number
where it is located, and write out the sentence. Identify the core parts of the
sentence (subject and verb), as well as the conjunction. When identifying the
example, keep in mind that not all instances of conjunctions connect two clauses.

(5) 9. Repeat the steps in Question 8 for a subordinate sentence.

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(5) 10. Write out two examples of transitions from the essay. Give the paragraph and
page numbers where the examples are located, and if this is a direct quote, put it
in quotation marks. Explain what the transition indicates about relationships
among ideas.

(5) 11. Find an example of comma use. Write out the sentence, identify it with quotation
marks, and indicate the paragraph and page number. Highlight the comma(s) you
are referring to, and name their use.

(5) 12. the steps in Question 11 for the use of a colon, semicolon, or dash.

5/5

2. The reading method I have chosen to read the essay for this assignment was the
Reading Inventory Table.

Preparing to Read

Title

What can I infer from the title of the essay?

What I can gather from the title of the essay is that it’s a scary/gory essay because the
title “Red Smile” encompasses a scary scene like in a horror movie or during
Halloween.

Who do I think is the author’s audience? What is the principle purpose of the essay?

In my opinion, I think the author’s audience are people who like scary stories and
mystery. I think the principle purpose of the essay is to always be careful because
even though someone is nice and happy, smiles can also be evil and misleading.

Synopsis

What is the general subject of the essay?

The general subject of the essay is about the author’s introductory visit to a
psychiatrist and the rituals that she performs before visiting any doctor.

What is the author’s approach to the subject?

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The author’s approach to the subject is why do we perform rituals and what if the
rituals we perform in certain situations such as visiting the doctor or going to a job
interview changes.

Biography

What do I know about the author’s age, political stance, and general beliefs?

The author is around her mid-nineties. There is no mention of the author’s political
stance however, the author has worked in the radio newsroom in the Office of
Strategic Services/Office of War Information and has written articles about building
the World Trade Centre, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, New York’s fair
housing law, and Inuit cooperatives. The author’s sense of humour and natural
curiosity are reflected through her life and her writing. The author loves to write
influential articles as well.

How qualified is the author to write on this subject?

The author is very much qualified to write on this subject because of her years of
experience in not only writing but as well as working in the radio newsroom.

When did the author write the essay? Under what conditions? In what context?

The author wrote the essay in 2010. By this time, the author has already contributed to
many forms of writing and is writing essays for enjoyment and entertainment.
Because she has been a writer/author for many years, she is able to provide readers
with content that are easy to understand and can be relatable.

Content

Where was the essay first published?

The essay was first published in Geist.

What would I like to learn about this topic?

I would like to learn why her rituals are so important just because she has an
appointment with a psychiatrist. Also, I would like to know if she would change her
routine if she did not have an appointment and why it would have an impact on her
daily ritual.

What are some of my opinions on this subject?

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My opinion about this subject is you should not have to change your rituals just to
visit a doctor/ psychiatrist because they may ask what your usual rituals are anyways.

Reading

What are the essay’s main ideas?

The essay’s main ideas revolves around what normal really means. The author does a
unique job of providing many examples such as accidentally spraying her mouth with
a red antiseptic (Merthiolate) which she thought she looked crazy. Secondly, the
author’s doctor urged her to see a psychiatrist after a painful divorce which she was
nervous about because she probably did not want the psychiatrist to think she’s not
normal. Also, her recent piece of writing on The New Yorker about “Eskimo food”
which the psychiatrist was not at all interested. Finally, the author says she sought
help from a Danish therapist who read from Hans Christian Andersen who is an
author of fairy tales and stories. Ultimately, what other’s find normal can seem weird
or unnatural for others. It’s actually ironic that the person who is not able to see the
humour or show interest in what the author states regarding her accidental spray of
red antiseptic, and her piece of writing about “Eskimo food” is a psychiatrist as they
are trained to be non-judgmental or bias however, the author describes him as not
having a sense of humour or shows no interest.

What words do I need to look up in a dictionary?

The words I need to look up in a dictionary are red Lavoris and antiseptic Merthiolate.
Red Lavoris is an oral care line for the whole family and has many different flavours.
Anticeptic Merthiolate is a substance that destroys micro-organisms that carry disease
without harming body tissues.

What are my initial reactions to the ideas in this essay?

My initial reactions to the ideas in this essay include what the significance of the
author’s explanation about why her mouth was red and the lengthy explanation of her
piece on The New Yorker about “Eskimo food”. I figured that there was a connection
between during those two instances as the psychiatrist reacted with a lack of interest
and compassion. Then, at the end of the essay, the author states that she sought help
from a Danish therapist who read from Hans Christian Andersen who was an author
of fairytales and stories. The author felt so comfortable with the Danish therapist even
asking the therapist how to prepare for her very first dinner party all by herself. Most
of the ideas mentioned involve the perception of others and how they would react and
whether or not it’s acceptable in their opinion. The instances where the author
accidentally sprays her mouth with red antiseptic and her piece about “Eskimo food”
may seem weird or unnatural for others but, the author is able to find humour and
fascination. Then there’s her Danish therapist. Individual’s may find it weird or
 Luistro 6

unnatural to be getting help from someone who reads from Hans Christian Andersen
who mainly wrote fairy tales and stories but, the author finds comfort with the Danish
therapist even asking him to help her with a dinner party. Also, because Hans
Christian Andersen is a writer, the author appreciates the Danish therapist for
appreciating an author’s work when he reads to her.

Rereading

How does the author achieve his or her purpose in this essay?

The author has achieved her purpose in this essay by allowing readers to engage in the
feeling and experience she went through during her psychiatry visits. The feeling of
nervousness, embarrassment, humour, and awkwardness were just a couple of
feelings the author allowed readers to feel while reading her essay. The author gave
readers an understanding of the ordeal she went through.

What assumptions underlie the author’s reasoning?

There are some assumptions that underlie the author’s reasoning. For instance during
her explanation about why her mouth was red. The author assumed that if she
explained herself, the psychiatrist would also find it funny as to why her mouth was
red even though the psychiatrist had no reaction. Also, when the author explains her
piece of writing on The New Yorker about Eskimo food, she thought that the
psychiatrist would be as fascinated as she was even though she assumed wrong.

Do I have a solid interpretive understanding of this essay? Do I understand the

relationship among ideas? What conclusions can I draw from this essay?

In my opinion, I feel like I have a solid interpretive understanding of this essay and
the understanding of relationship among ideas because I am able distinguish the
importance of what the author is describing. I am able to grasp and connect the ideas
the author has incorporated into her essay through her feelings, emotions, and
expressions throughout the essay. Also, the author does a great job of allowing
readers to be in the moment not only when she’s trying to rush for her appointment
but as well as during her awkward moments with the psychiatrist and feeling like shes
talking to a brick wall. The author depicts the important aspect of having been
embarrassed and trying to laugh at yourself even though the audience (psychiatrist) do
not see the humour. The conclusion I can draw from this essay is that it’s important to
be aware of your reactions and behaviours because it can impact how a person feels
and acts towards how they feel about you. Being able to listen to others is important
but your non-verbal cues are also important. Finally, being able to show openness,
humility, and humour during a person’s most embarrassing moment reveals to that
person your character and personality. If you are not laughing with them during their
most embarrassing moments that means you really are judging them.
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Impressive detail and full expression!! Very well done indeed.

20/20
3. In a word or phrase, the topic of the passage is a visit to a psychiatrist.
5/5
4. The author’s purpose of the passage is to narrate a personal experience and entertain.
What gave me this impression is the author’s emphasis on details of her visit to a
psychiatrist. Even though her experience seemed negative, the author found a way to
make her experience an entertaining one.
Excellent.
5/5
5. The main idea is explicit. The main idea in the essay “Red Smile” by Edith Iglauer is,
“I might have travelled the psychiatry route... except for a ludicrous mistake that
saved me” (68).
Yes, I think that is an excellent choice.
5/5
6. The tone of the essay is humorous. Because Edith Iglauer has effectively incorporated
the tone of humour into the essay “Red Smile” I was able to not only read her essay
with ease but as well as with understanding her main ideas, purpose, and intended
audience. Edith Iglauer’s choice of words allows readers to feel how she was feeling
during her visit with the psychiatrist. An example in the essay “Red Smile” by Edith
Iglauer that illustrates the tone being humorous was “I opened my mouth and bared
my teeth in front of the mirror, and tried to imagine that I was the psychiatrist seeing
me, the patient, for the first time. I definitely looked crazy” (69).
Again, excellent!
5/5
7. Everyone has a different perspective of what normal really means. Every since I can
remember, I’ve always had bread with Nutella (chocolate spread) with a cup of
coffee. During summer vacation, I spent it with a close friend and his family at their
cottage. I packed my swim trunks, toothbrush, underwear, a couple pair of shirts and
jeans, and most importantly white bread and Nutella. During breakfast, my friend’s
mom asked "what do you want for breakfast?" I replied "coffee please". I whipped out
my Nutella and bread; took out two pieces of bread and spread Nutella. At the table, I
dipped my bread in the coffee that my friend’s mom had provided. The faces of my
friend’s mother and father were priceless; their mouths wide open with shock as if I
had done something wrong. However, by the end of the trip, every single person
during breakfast were dipping their bread with Nutella in their coffee. Yes, everyone
may have different perspective of what normal really means; however, exposing
others from the norm allow individuals to explore how they truly feel once they
experience something for themselves.
Topic: Nutella and coffee
Purpose: Narration
Main Idea: What does normal really mean?
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A very well written, nicely organized and readable passage. Excellent expressions of
topic and purpose, but main idea should not be expressed as a question. Rephrase as a
statement.
27/30
8. An example of coordinating sentence is on paragraph two on page sixty eight on the
Reader’s Choice. The coordinating sentence example is stated as: “I fiddled around,
trying to decide what to wear; and then, what would I say when I got there?” The
subject of the sentence is I and the verb of the sentence is fiddled, decide, and say.
The coordinating sentence is and.
5/5
9. An example of subordinate sentence is on paragraph nineteen on page seventy on the
Reader’s Choice. The subordinate sentence example is stated as: He spent the rest of
our allotted time in a thinly disguised attempt to find out whether I would be able to
pay for future sessions. The subjects of the sentence are He and I and the verbs of the
sentence is spent and pay. The subordinate conjunction of the sentence is whether.
5/5
10. The two examples of transitions from the essay are located in paragraph fourteen on
page sixty nine and the other example is located in paragraph twenty two on page
seventy. The first example of transition that is located in paragraph fourteen on page
sixty nine states: “As a matter of fact, I have a piece in The New Yorker magazine this
week”. The second example of transition that is located in paragraph twenty two on
page seventy states: “And since I am giving you plenty of notice, I will not be paying
you for the cancelled session”. The transition word of the first example is the word as
and the transition word of the second example is the word and. The two examples of
transitions I have mentioned indicate transition signalling addition which are
transitions that serve to add one idea to another.
5/5
11. An example of a comma use from the essay is located on paragraph eighteen on page
seventy which states: “The challenge, I went on, was to convince the Inuit that foods
they had always consumed fresh could safely be eaten from a can during periods of
food scarcity. The comma’s highlighted is parenthetical use which is where the
comma can be used to separate additional information from the main part of the
sentence. Writers occasionally interrupt the core sentence to add extra, or
parenthetical, information that is important but not crucial to the meaning of the
sentence. Commas are inserted before and after this parenthetical information. This
use of the comma assists in identifying the core parts of the sentence.
5/5
12. An example I found happened to have a semicolon use from the essay located on
paragraph three on page sixty eight which states: “ For as long as I can remember, I
have never gone to a doctor or dentist or therapist appointment without performing
three sacred rituals: a bath, then the toilet; and finally, brushing my teeth. The
semicolon highlighted is to separate two closely related ideas that have been
combined into a single sentence. When you read a sentence that contains a semicolon,
be alert for two separate ideas and two sets of core parts. The use of a semicolon
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indicates that the two ideas have equal weight or importance, as in coordination.
Occasionally, a semicolon is used to separate sentence parts that, if divided by
commas, would be confusing or difficult to read.
5/5

Wow! A very, very impressive TME2; one of the best I’ve read in some times.

Total: 97/100 (!!)