Works Cited
Violin by Emily G. Campagna
Piano by Dan (April) Feng
Guitar by Isaiah J. Rhodes
Vocals by Daniel E. Pedroza
Discussion Questions
- Aristotle said speakers and writers used three forms of proof in making arguments: the ethical (ethos), the logical (logos), and the emotional (pathos). Which type of proof is strongest in this essay? Find the words or phrases that demonstrate the author's use of this form of proof. What about the author's delivery and use of music? How do these influence your response to the piece?
- Students often come to college with the idea that they should not use the pronoun "I" in an essay. However, "Together We Shake" is a personal narrative. What would be lost if the writer eschewed the pronoun "I"? Would anything be gained? Now think about more formal writing assignments. Is there a place for the pronoun "I" in such assignments? What might be lost and what might be gained through the use of "I" in a paper? Why do you think some people believe academic writing should avoid the use of the first-person? Do you agree with them?
- One way we think about the ethics of a piece of writing is to assess, as best we can, the character of the author. For example, do we feel the author is being honest with us? What qualities of character—integrity, accountability, generosity, courage, others—are communicated in the text? Look for places in the text where the authors' words speak to her character. How do these qualities influence the way you feel about this piece?
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